Sunset cup coral

The sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti) belongs to the Phylum Cnidaria that includes sea anemones, corals and jellyfish. It looks similar in appearance to sea anemones but has a skeleton from which its tentacles emerge. This species attaches itself to rocks and is generally found between 10m and 30m depth. The above photo was taken just south of Plymouth Sound at a location known as ‘the dropoff’.

For more information on sunset cup corals visit MarLin.

Photo credit: Keith Hiscock