Corallimorpharia
Corallimorpharia is an order of marine cnidarians that shares a close relationship with stony or reef building corals (Scleractinia). These organisms are predominantly found in tropical climates, but can also be found in temperate regions. In temperate environments, they tend to have a robust appearance, characterized by wide and long columns. Conversely, tropical forms exhibit shorter columns with a wider oral disc and shorter tentacles. The tentacles are typically arranged in rows radiating from the mouth. While many species form large groups, some instances of individual occurrences have also been recorded. In many aspects, corallimorpharians bear resemblance to stony corals, except for the absence of a stony skeleton. Both morphological and molecular evidence strongly indicate their close relationship to stony corals.
Corallimorpharians can be found in a wide range of marine habitats and are known to contribute to phase shifts in coral reef ecosystems. These shifts result in a transition from a reef dominated by hard corals to one dominated by soft corals. Notably, corallimorpharians have been observed to overgrow reefs in a carpet-like formation. Many species are also popular invertebrates kept in marine aquaria.