Capnella is a genus of soft corals in the family Nephtheidae. They are also commonly known as Kenya tree corals.
Species Capnella arbuscula Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella australiensis (Thorpe, 1928) Capnella bouilloni Verseveldt, 1976 Capnella erecta Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella fructosa Capnella fungiformis Kükenthal, 1903 Capnella gaboensis Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella garetti Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella imbricata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) Capnella johnstonei Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella lacertiliensis Macfadyen Capnella parva Light, 1913 Capnella portlandensis Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella ramosa Light, 1913 Capnella sabangensis Roxas, 1933 Capnella shepherdi Verseveldt, 1977 Capnella spicata (May) Capnella susanae Williams, 1988 Capnella thyrsoidea (Verrill, 1989) Capnella watsonae Verseveldt, 1977
Description Capnella are arborescent, some species are lobed. Generally they are grey with brown polyps. Colour intensity is dependent on light intensity, the higher the intensity of light, the lighter colour of the coral. They form thick trunks with branches that closely resemble trees. In stronger currents they form flatter colonies with shorter branches.
Distribution and habitats Kenya Tree corals are widespread throughout the Indo-pacific region, from the African coast to the Western Pacific. They are found on coral reef slopes in clear water from deep to the shallows with strong tidal currents. Sometimes found in shadier places and on coral rubble in shallow water close to the shore.
Biology They have symbiotic algae from which they obtain most of their nutrients.
Asexual reproduction has been observed. They form distinctive swellings at bottom of a branch which then drops off by fission at the swelling. The branch then secures to a new hold and forms a new colony. They can stick very quickly and will be firmly rooted within a day. Colonies can bend and reattach to the rock or by “creeping” and division at the base.
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