Fig 4. Time-lapse stills from the Dino-Lite AM7915 microscope documenting the complex behaviour of the coral underside and the peripheral tissues as C. cyclolites moves toward the blue source light (480nm).

(A) The direction of the blue light originates from the bottom left corner of the image. The coral is concave which means very only fine rim of tissue is contacting the substate at any one time in its resting state. However, there thick transparent ventral ‘pedal’ structures (vent) that improve substrate surface contact area and subsequently may aid mobility that appear to be present most of the time. (B) Inflation causes the peripheral tissues to increase contact surface are with the substrate. (C) The lateral peripheral tissues pulse, twist and drag the coral over the substate. (D) The pulsing (inflation and contraction) leaves mucus and sediment rings behind (S3 Video).