Animals of this class have a simple cup shaped body that consists of two layers of cells, sloping peripheral platforms and wide axial pits.

The endoskeleton is composed of tiny stick-like calcium carbonate rods that fuse together to form a rigid structure which may be colored red, pink, or white.

However, the general trend observed is one of a proportionally positive relationship between coral colony age and polyp and height size.

[9] Most species can be found in large numbers around the west and central Pacific, including the surrounding seas of New Caledonia, Taiwan, Japan and the Hawaiian Archipelago.

[9] Likewise, the corals of the genera Corallium are widespread along the Mediterranean and the neighboring Atlantic coasts and is primarily seen around the central and western basin.

[10] The two places to date that have been reported to have high levels of species diversity and exploited populations are the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent Atlantic, together with the Northern Pacific Ocean.

The tentacles located on the coral lie in the same plane as the mesenteries, concave oral discs, but are bent slightly forward or backward.

In order to capture bigger prey like brine shrimp, several tentacles must repeat the raptorial manner of feeding in conjunction.

However, recently data has shown ongoing declining population numbers of the corals, which prompted the EU and the US to include the family Corallidae in the CITES Appendix II in order to regulate its trade.