Pulsing Coral

Xenia elongata

Guardian: Florian Izko

Why do these corals pulse? It is not to catch food. It is not a form of hypnosis or a dance or a message to Alien observers from the Planet Corallius to come and destroy humans for not taking care of the Reef. Xenia are super-photosynthesisers and they do it so fast that they pulse to pull in more of the CO2 and dissolved nutrients they need to photosynthesise.