News Animals

How a mushroom coral goes for a walk without legs

New video shows how coming-of-age mushroom coral polyps migrate from reef to blue depths

This gif shows a close-up of a mushroom coral with its exterior blue tentacles wiggling.

This coral polyp lives as a loner and can even — very slowly — walk. Without legs. New video reveals details of its locomotion.

B.M. Lewis et al/PLOS One 2025 (CC-BY 4.0)

By Susan Milius

A coral walks into a (sand) bar. This may sound like a joke.