Heterocyathus aequicostatus

This coral sometimes harbours photosynthetic, single-celled dinoflagellates called Zooxanthellae in its tissues. The polyps extend their tentacles at night to feed, normally remaining retracted by day. The larvae are planktonic, and when fully developed they are attracted to settle on the shells of tiny gastropod molluscs, gradually enveloping the molluscs as they grow into juvenile corals.^[3]

In Australia, this coral often lives in symbiosis with the sipunculid worm, Aspidosiphon muelleri.^[3] The worm often has an entrance hole on the oral disc through which it can extend its introvert to feed. Another hole in the base of the coral is used by the worm to move the coral about on the sandy seabed, preventing the coral from becoming buried.^[3]

In general coral reefs are being degraded, and although this coral is a common species, it is likely that its populations are in decline along with their habitats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed H. aequicostatus as being of "least concern" as it considers that the rate of decline in its populations is not sufficient to justify listing it in a more threatened category.^[1]