[2] Species are generally solitary marine animals capable of benthic locomotion.

[5] In most genera, a single polyp emerges from the center of the skeleton to feed at night.

[6][7] Some species of mushroom coral such as Fungia repanda and Ctenactis echinata are able to change sex.

This is posited to take place in response to environmental or energetic constraints, and to improve the organism's evolutionary fitness; similar phenomena are observed in some dioecious plants.

[8] The World Register of Marine Species includes these genera in the family:[1] Members of the family Fungiidae are not of any commercial importance, but are collected for the aquarium trade and are sold as "plate corals".