Orange Cup Coral
| Name: | Orange Cup Coral |
| Scientific Name: | Tubastraea coccinea |
| Family: | Stony Corals |
| Taxonomic: | Dendrophylliidae |
| ID Group: | Corals, Algae |
| Size: | up to 12 in. |
| Depth Range: | Various depths (0 – 130 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen many times |
This Cup Coral forms clusters of rounded structures covered in bright orange or yellow polyps. Its tentacles are brightly colored and usually come out at night. The surface that covers its skeleton is often light red or deeper orange.
Orange Cup Coral usually lives in dark places such as caves, under ledges, or on dock pilings. It is an invasive species that originally came from the Indo-Pacific.