Annella mollis, the Soft Sea Fan Coral, forms broad, flat fans up to 1 meter (3.3 ft) in width. These fans consist of a flexible central stalk from which fine branches radiate, forming a lacy pattern designed to maximize exposure to water currents. Tiny polyps cover the branches, contributing to the coral's textured appearance. Its colours vary from orange and yellow to shades of violet and brown.
It inhabits steep reef slopes, walls, and drop-offs, typically between 10 and 40 meters (33-131 ft) deep. The species favors strong currents, which facilitate the capture of plankton and detritus by its polyps using their tentacles. Annella mollis also hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae, photosynthetic algae living within its tissues that provide supplementary nutrients. The coral provides habitat and shelter for various marine organisms, including fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, contributing to the structural complexity of coral reefs.
- broad, flat fan shape
- flexible central stalk
- lacy pattern of fine branches
- variable colours: orange, yellow, violet, brown
