Balanophyllia bonaespei is a species of solitary cup coral, a stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae.Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa It is an azooxanthellate species that does not contain symbiotic dinoflagellates in its tissues as most corals do.
Description Cup corals are solitary hard corals which superficially resemble orange sea anemones. They grow to 1–2 cm in diameter. They have almost transparent beaded tentacles.Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008.
Distribution This species is known from Saldanha Bay to East London off the South African coast, and lives from under water.
Ecology This species is often found in caves or under dark overhangs.
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