Long tentacle plate coral (Heliofungia actiniformis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Fungiidae · Genus: Heliofungia.

Accepted name: Heliofungia actiniformis · Authority: (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 207362.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Fungia (Heliofungia) actiniformis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833; Fungia actiniformis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833; Fungia actiniformis var. crassitentaculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1833; Fungia actiniformis var. palawensis Döderlein, 1902; Fungia actiniformis var. salawattensis Döderlein, 1902; Fungia actiniformis var. singapurensis Döderlein, 1902; Fungia actiniformis var. suluensis Döderlein, 1902; Fungia actinodiscus Umbgrove, 1950; Fungia crassitentaculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1833; Fungia diversidens Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851; Fungia granulicostata Umbgrove, 1946.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207362 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Heliofungia actiniformis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Depth range: 0–450 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 100944. No bleaching observed in Palau (Ref. 66144).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45862) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Heliofungia-actiniformis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

893 georeferenced occurrence records for Heliofungia actiniformis are published through GBIF from 15 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 163 distinct locations from a sample of 893 records, omitting 41 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (349); Indonesia (205); Philippines (135); Papua New Guinea (41); New Caledonia (38); Malaysia (32); Palau (28); Japan (24); Singapore (12); Solomon Islands (9); Vanuatu (9); Timor-Leste (6); Thailand (3); Maldives (1); Mayotte (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; East Africa; Central Indo-Pacific; Carteret Harbour; Australian Exclusive Economic Zone; Papua New Guinean Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2260592) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2260592&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207362 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Heliofungia actiniformis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 133269) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133269/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2260592) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2260592/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Although fixed to the substrate as a juvenile (being sessile), this coral becomes detached later and It is circular or oval with a diameter of up to 20 cm and height of 7 cm. The corallum (stony skeleton) is thick and solid. The septa (stony ridges) are in several orders. The early order septa are larger than later order ones and have more prominent, lobe-like or triangular teeth. All the septa are granulate, and continue to the underside of the corallum as fine ridges known as costae. There is an attachment scar in the centre of the underside. The polyp is thick and fleshy and has a single mouth surrounded by thick tentacles with knobs on the end. The tentacles are nearly always extended and superficially resembles a large sea anemone.

Heliofungia actiniformis is native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the central Indo-Pacific region, the northwestern, northern and eastern coasts of Australia, Japan, the South China Sea and the island groups of the West Pacific. Its depth range is between about 1 and 25 m. It usually occurs on reef slopes or on reef flats.

H. actiniformis is a zooxanthellate coral, containing tiny photosynthetic, symbiotic organisms in its tissues. During the day these supply the coral with much of its metabolic needs. The coral also feeds on zooplankton which are caught by the tentacles. Besides reproducing sexually by liberating eggs and sperm into the water column (spawning), this coral sometimes buds off a new polyp. Polyps of H. actiniformis provide a micro-habitat to a wide range of associated fauna from cleaner shrimps to juvenile fishes.

Many corals can be increased in number by detaching pieces of a colony and attaching them to the substrate. That is not possible with large polyp stony corals such as Heliofungia actiniformis, but it is hoped to remedy this by placing collecting devices above them when spawning is about to occur, mixing the eggs and sperm under controlled conditions and nurturing the larvae in tanks. The technique has been successfully applied to Acropora formosa. It is hoped that the resulting offspring will be able to be used to repopulate damaged reefs or to relieve the pressure of collecting corals from the wild for the reef aquarium trade.

Although this coral is common in some localities, it is vulnerable to the degradation processes which are occurring on coral reefs. It is susceptible to coral diseases and to coral bleaching and is likely to be threatened by climate change. It is also heavily collected for the aquarium trade, being one of the top 10 exported corals from Indonesia, the largest exporter of the species. In 2005, about 50,000 individuals were collected and exported from Indonesia. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as "vulnerable".

Source: Wikipedia: Heliofungia actiniformis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliofungia_actiniformis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Gallery