Devil’s finger coral

Lobophytum pauciflorum

Guardian: Jessica Newman

If we could see the subcellular world around this coral we would see a mucous filled with large molecules (Diterpenes) that would be covered in grappling hook-like armament. These molecules are like soldiers defending their castle and they would attach themselves to any foreign body and use their hooks to tear off its cell walls, skinning it alive, like in some really violent war movie.