Knobby Sea Rods

Knobby Sea Rods are soft coral colonies with an upright, branching shape, often growing in a single flat plane. The surface is bumpy with many small, raised openings. The polyps, when extended, give the coral a fuzzy look. Their color varies widely, but common shades include brown, purple, and gray.

Knobby Sea Rods is a common name used for several very similar species in the genus Eunicea. They are commonly found growing on hard rock, ledges, and in areas with moderate current. They feed by expanding their polyps, mainly at night or dusk, using their tentacles to catch small drifting Zooplankton or organic particles in the water. Reproduction occurs through the release of eggs and sperm into the water, and also by fragmentation, where broken pieces settle and grow into new colonies.