Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Mustard hill coral
Size:
On average, mustard hill coral grows 0.35 centimeters (3.5 millimeters) every year.
Diet:
Using its tentacles, mustard hill coral will catch and eat smaller marine organisms that drift by. Coral also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
In the western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, mustard hill coral inhabits shallow reef communities.
Details:
Mustard hill coral is an encrusting coral species that forms large colonies on hard surfaces. It gets its name from its bright, bumpy, mustard yellow appearance. As it grows, it can cover rocks, reefs, and other substrates, giving it a wide presence in its habitat.