Hydnophora dead polyp or pest?

[Kjames]

I noticed this squiggly white stuff on the leading edge of my Hydnophora today. Is this dead tissue or some type of ”other”? Not very familiar with this coral. It has grown aggressively thus far and I'm glad it lives on it's own rock.

 

[Gareth elliott]

They are Mesenterial filaments.
Or the guts of the polyps, they are used in defense against other corals or a sign of distress. When there is a near by coral they throw up their stomachs to dissolve the other coral.

 

[Kjames]

Thanks! There are definitely corals upstream of it and it's probably in a higher flow area than it likes. And my Flame Angel chomps it occasionally.

 

[Pdash]

Thanks! There are definitely corals upstream of it and it's probably in a higher flow area than it likes. And my Flame Angel chomps it occasionally.

Looks like it's clearing ground for future growth to me.