Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Smooth star coral
Size:
Smooth star corals can grow up to 17.72 inches (45 centimeters) in diameter.
Diet:
Using its tiny polyp tentacles, these corals will 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:
Smooth star coral can be found in shallow waters near seagrass beds and lagoons throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Details:
Smooth star coral can form massive colonies in the form of irregular half domes. They can be green, cream or tan in color.