Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Blushing star coral
Size:
Colonies of blushing star coral usually reach less than one foot (0.3 meters) across.
Diet:
Coral have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
Throughout the western Atlantic ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, blushing star coral inhabits reef communities, channels, and deep lagoons at various depths.
Details:
The star-shaped polyps of blushing star corals give them a distinct appearance, especially when the polyps extend to feed. They thrive in deeper reef zones with moderate water temperatures where water conditions are more stable.