Dendronephthya hemprichi
A tree-like soft coral from the Red Sea, without symbiotic algae: it cannot rely on light and feeds mainly on phytoplankton filtered from the current. 6 7 At Eilat it is the most abundant bottom-dwelling organism on the oil jetties, while on the natural reefs of the area it is very rare. 4
At a glance
Data from the scientific sources listed at the bottom.
Conservation
IUCN Red List: not evaluated.
The coral
Growth form: tree-like, branching and soft
Zooxanthellae: no
Growth: The shedding of a fragment is completed in about 2 days, and a large colony can carry hundreds of them. On test plates, after 52 days, there was more than one new individual per square centimetre. 4
Where it lives
Northern Red Sea, with data mainly from Eilat and Egypt. 1 3 4 10 One database places it more generally in the western Indo-Pacific. 2 Colonies found in 2023 at Sdot Yam, in the Israeli Mediterranean, seem to belong to this species, but the authors were unable to confirm it. 9
Life in the wild
Where it is found
It dominates vertical surfaces, both on jetties and on the natural walls of the northern Red Sea. 4 At Eilat it was found on metal pilings and barbed wire, with colonies over 40 cm, 1 and it is also reported in the mesophotic zone, that is, in low light. 2 11 The Mediterranean colonies, whose identity is unconfirmed, were at 42 m. 9
What it eats
It filters mainly phytoplankton. Zooplankton covers less than 5% of the carbon needed for growth and respiration. 6 Phytoplankton uptake and the addition of new polyps were highest with a current of around 15 cm per second. 6 The tentacles have 11-13 pinnules on each side; 8 according to the authors, it is probably the closely spaced pinnules that allow it to catch phytoplankton. 6
Reproduction
Separate sexes, with gametes released into the water all year round: an exception compared with the brief, synchronised spawning typical of many reef corals. 3 Females often spawn for several nights in a row. 3 At Eilat mature eggs measured about 300-410 micrometres and larvae 445-644 micrometres. 2 5 It also multiplies by shedding small fragments of 2-5 mm, with root-like extensions that quickly anchor them to the bottom. 4
In the aquarium
From the experience of the BallingMania community.
A colonial hermatypic anthozoan belonging to the order Alcyonacea, family Nephtheidae. Its colour is generally deep pink, red, purple or orange. Place of origin: the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
This coral lives on the slopes of the coral reef at a depth of 6-35 m; some species are sciaphilous (they need shaded exposure, with lighting without direct sunlight) and grow inside caves, while others, more adaptable, grow in full light. Completely lacking a rigid skeletal support, the single polyp has a tubular, very elongated shape; at the top of the column is the mouth opening, surrounded by a small oral disc; the oral disc, or stoma, is surrounded by a small crown of eight tentacles with jagged edges, only slightly stinging.
A very delicate anthozoan, suited to experienced aquarists; it is suitable for the reef aquarium together with other invertebrates and small or medium-sized fish, preferably Amphiprion, Acanthurids, Pomacentrids and Centropyge. Water conditions must be very good, with stable chemical values and a low organic and inorganic load.
It prefers a strong water flow, preferably alternating with moments of stillness, so as to bring food to the colony and carry away the waste products secreted by the individuals; for placement, an area with medium-low light intensity is preferable. Water conditions must be very good, with stable chemical values and a low organic and inorganic load. In the aquarium it must be fed directly and frequently, with live plankton or freeze-dried coral foods. It does not tolerate high temperatures well.
Species sheet by Massimo Ramognino and photo by Silvia Minozzi
Did you know?
Sources
- McFadden C.S., Cordeiro R., Samimi-Namin K., Hoeksema B.W., Williams G., van Ofwegen L.P. (2026). Dendronephthya hemprichi (Klunzinger, 1877). World List of Octocorallia, via WoRMS.
- Madin J. et al. (eds.) (2026). Dendronephthya hemprichi. Coral Trait Database.
- Dahan M., Benayahu Y. (1997). Reproduction of Dendronephthya hemprichi (Cnidaria: Octocorallia): year-round spawning in an azooxanthellate soft coral. Marine Biology.
- Dahan M., Benayahu Y. (1997). Clonal propagation by the azooxanthellate octocoral Dendronephthya hemprichi. Coral Reefs.
- Dahan M., Benayahu Y. (1998). Embryogenesis, planulae longevity, and competence in the octocoral Dendronephthya hemprichi. Invertebrate Biology, reference in the Coral Trait Database.
- Fabricius K.E., Genin A., Benayahu Y. (1995). Flow-dependent herbivory and growth in zooxanthellae-free soft corals. Limnology and Oceanography.
- Fabricius K.E., Benayahu Y., Genin A. (1995). Herbivory in asymbiotic soft corals. Science.
- Grossowicz M., Benayahu Y. (2012). Differential morphological features of two Dendronephthya soft coral species suggest differences in feeding niches. Marine Biodiversity.
- Nativ H., Galili O., Almuly R. et al. (2023). New record of Dendronephthya sp. (family: Nephtheidae) from Mediterranean Israel: evidence for tropicalization?. Biology.
- Chen, Chang, Chen et al. (2020). Natural products from octocorals of the genus Dendronephthya (family Nephtheidae). Molecules.
- Benayahu Y., Bridge T.C., Colin P.L. et al. (2019). Octocorals of the Indo-Pacific. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, reference in the Coral Trait Database.
- McFadden C.S., van Ofwegen L.P., Quattrini A.M. (2022). Revisionary systematics of Octocorallia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) guided by phylogenomics. Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists, reference in the Coral Trait Database.
Sources checked on 5 November 2026. Community texts and ratings are kept separate from the scientific data.
