Research lead by Dr Brett Lewis at Queensland University of Technology investigated how a free-living mushroom coral moves and responds to light in its natural environment.
Using high-resolution time-lapse imaging, the team identified that Cycloseris cyclolites was able to move via pulsed inflation, a process where the coral inflates and deflates its tissue in rhythmic bursts to propel itself forward, like the movement seen in jellyfish, but much more slowly.
The corals prefer blue light sources, similar to the spectrum found in deeper water. And their pace is approximately 220mm in 24 hours.
Full articles at: NYTimes Science 22jan25 and QUT News 23jan25