A scleractinian coral species belonging to the Merulinidae family, characterized by compact, rounded colonial structures found in marine tropical environments.
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Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Shallow tropical and subtropical marine coral reef ecosystems, typically in Indo-Pacific regions at depths between 1-30 meters, preferring warm water temperatures between 24-29°C
Ecological Role
Provides critical marine habitat structure, supports biodiversity, contributes to reef formation, and serves as a crucial ecosystem engineer in coral reef environments
Morphology
SKIN COATCalcified exoskeleton with protective external tissue layer
LIMBS WINGSMultiple interconnected polyps forming a cohesive colonial structure
HEAD SENSORYPolyps with basic chemoreceptive capabilities, capable of detecting environmental changes
BODY STRUCTURECompact, rounded colonial formation with dense calcium carbonate skeletal structure, typically 5-15 cm in diameter
Data Source: TaxonHub Database
Image Credit: NPS photo - Larry Basch
