Cirrhipathes anguina (Yellow wire coral)
Yellow, straight or spiraling, wire-like coral structures, covered in polyps
Unevaluated by the IUCN Red list, but they have been placed on the CITES list (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), because of its use in jewelry. The skeleton of this black coral is very popular and is polished before used in crafts.
Indo-Pacific, in a very large depth range.
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Up to 300cm.
Some wire corals have zooxanthellae in their tissue which help to provide energy by photosynthesis. This species has no zooxanthellae and most therefore rely on filter feeding. They capture particles with their tentacles and small animals up to 2mm in size from the water column. They benefit from at least some current to provide nutrition.
If wire corals are examined closely you will often find wire coral gobies on them, or other shrimps.
