Life History & Behaviour

Little is known about T. musica reproductive system. Colonies of octocorals are often dimorphic with autozooids (feeding) polyps and siphozooids (several activities and sometimes sexual reproduction). Most species are gonochorist, releasing their gametes on the water column on massive spawning events. They have indirect development with Planula larvae.


Developing gametes inside a polyp

Tubipora musica is zooxantellate, using the algae's products of photosynthesis as carbon source but they are also active predators. They move their tentacles to provoke water pumping, attracting food particules on the water to the mouth.