Yellow Cup Coral
Leptopsammia pruvoti
Sighting evidence at Punta del Faro, Portofino
Photo: João Pedro Silva · CC BY-NC
The overhangs and undercuts at Punta del Faro are lined with colonies of yellow cup coral, a solitary non-photosynthetic species that thrives in the shaded, current-rich conditions of the headland's deeper ledges. Unlike tropical zooxanthellate corals, these azooxanthellate cup corals feed entirely on planktonic particles swept in by the current, producing vivid golden clusters that glow brilliantly under a torch. They share the undercuts with red and orange sponges, creating some of the most colourful wall scenery in northern Italy.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Yellow Cup Coral is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.