Various colors of Sarcophyton ehrenbergi have been found throughout regions wherethey have been found. Colors of the anthostele include green, yellow, cream, beige, andbrown, while anthocodia (autozooid polyps neck zone) usually match the color ofthe coral colony except for brown colonies, which may have white or yellow autozooidpolyps (Fabricius & Alderslade, 2001). In Heron Island alone three colors ofcolonies were found: green, beige, and brown with white polyps.
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Green colony of S. ehrenbergi. Anthocodia matches the anthostele color green but a darker shade probably due to the zooxanthellea.
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A small beige colony found on the intertidal shore southwest of Heron Island
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Most commonly found on Heron Island were the brown colonies.
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Anthocodia are matching with the anthostele but tentacles are white color.
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Close up of the brown colony polyps. Only the tentacles are white color with a brown neck zone.
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