|
Four-eye butterflyfish (Chaetodon capistratus) feeding
on starlet coral Siderastrea siderea
|
Several
animals eat coral polyps, such as butterflyfish, parrotfish, coral-eating
snails and fireworms. These organisms are known as corallivores.
|
| Without
observing the predator, it is possible to misidentify tissue
loss from predation as a coral disease. However, there are often
tell-tale signs associated with predation. This includes the
removal of tissue in an identifiable pattern, or a loss of tissue
that is associated with removal of the upper layers of the coral's
skeleton. Fish predators often leave characteristic bite marks
that form an outline of their upper and lower jaws. |
Female (initial phase) stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
biting on a lobate star coral, Montastraea annularis. |
