Tan lettuce-leaf coral
Agaricia agaricites
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Description:
This species has at least 5 different growth forms. All of these forms are fairly common under the proper conditions and may be correlated with light and wave conditions. In very shallow water the species forms small tubercles, at 10 m depth the species occurs leaf-shaped, with corallites on both sides (A. agaricites shallow form) and in deeper water the colony forms large vertical scales reaching a diameter of more than half a meter, with corallites on one side only.
Color:
Light brown to purple-brown.
Corallites:
Pattern of corallites distinctive, with up to 36 septa. Columella present, trabecular and discontinuous.
Habitat:
From very shallow water to at least 45 m.
Distribution:
Abundant to common Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.