Thorny Black Coral [Stichopathes aculeata]
Description
The Thorny Black Coral, or Stichopathes aculeata, is a species of black coral that is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Its skeleton is black, and it has small, sharp spines on its branches, hence its common name. It lives in deep waters and has a preference for rocky substrates.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
Black Corals
Antipatharia
|
| Family |
Thorn Corals
Antipathidae
|
| Genus |
Stichopathes
Stichopathes
|