Massive Starlet Coral [Siderastrea siderea]
Description
A species of colonial stony coral found in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It forms large, rounded colonies with a smooth surface, and each polyp has six tentacles. Its color ranges from grey to brown, and it often has a mottled appearance due to the presence of symbiotic algae. It is a slow-growing species, adding about 1 cm to its diameter each year. It favours shallow water and is often the dominant species in its habitat. It is resistant to many of the diseases that affect other coral species.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
Stony Corals
Scleractinia
|
| Family |
Siderastreidae
Siderastreidae
|
| Genus |
Massive Starlet Coral
Siderastrea
|