Soft Coral
About Soft Corals in Singapore
Last updated 31 May 2026
Like Hard Corals, the Soft Corals (Alcyonacea) are colonial animals, comprising many tiny individuals known as polyps. Many Soft Corals also contain symbiotic algae, or zooxanthellae, that provide the coral with food through photosynthesis.
However, some Soft Corals are great filter feeders and catch plankton for nutrients instead. Being less reliant on zooxanthellae (which require light to survive) allows these species to live in deeper, darker waters.
Identifying features
Check out some of the identifying features of Soft Corals below.
On the left is a Leathery Soft Coral (Alcyoniidae), and on the right is an Asparagus Flowery Soft Coral (Nephtheidae).
Unlike Hard Corals, Soft Corals lack a hard calcium carbonate skeletal structure. Instead, they possess an internal skeleton made up of chalk spicules and are generally soft-bodied.
Habitat and ecology
While Soft Corals do not contribute to reef building, they still constitute an important part of the reef by providing a habitat for other marine fauna.
Did you know?
Singapore lies within the coral triangle, a small region spanning 6 countries that reaches all the way to the Solomon Islands. This tiny region alone contains 76% of all coral species in the world!
Learn more about the Soft Coral!
Curious about the Soft Coral? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
