Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Lesser starlet coral
Size:
Lesser starlet coral colonies can grow up to 12 inches (30 centimeters.)
Diet:
Using its polyp tentacles, lesser starlet corals catch and eat smaller marine organisms that drift by. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
Throughout the Gulf of Mexico, western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, lesser starlet coral can be found in shallow rocky reef areas.
Details:
Lesser starlet coral grows in small mounds or encrusting sheets. Each corallite is shaped like a small star, giving this coral its name. The surface color of this coral varies, with shades ranging from gray to green and light brown, while the deeper tissues are darker. Lesser starlet coral can grow as small mounds or as encrusting sheets over rocks and other hard surfaces.