A marine colonial stony coral characterized by its intricate, maze-like surface texture resembling a brain's neural pathways, typically found in tropical and subtropical coral reef ecosystems.
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Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Shallow tropical and subtropical marine environments, particularly coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions, at depths ranging from 1-40 meters, preferring moderate water temperatures between 23-29°C
Ecological Role
Critical reef-building species that provides complex marine habitat structure, supports marine biodiversity, protects coastlines from erosion, and serves as a primary calcium carbonate producer in coral reef ecosystems
Morphology
SKIN COATCalcium carbonate exoskeleton with living tissue layer containing photosynthetic zooxanthellae
LIMBS WINGSNo distinct limbs; surface covered with living polyps embedded in calcium carbonate skeleton
HEAD SENSORYPolyps distributed throughout surface with specialized tentacles for capturing microscopic prey and symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae
BODY STRUCTUREColonial coral with intricate, meandering ridges and valleys, forming a rounded or hemispherical shape with interconnected corallite structures, typically 30-50 cm in diameter
Data Source: TaxonHub Database
Image Credit: NPS photo - Eva DiDonato. Identified by Charles Birkeland
