Smooth flower coral
Eusmilia fastigiata
(Pallas, 1766)
Description:
This coral forms hemispherical mounds, with widely spaced polyps on long stalks, that appear to originate from a central core.
Color:
Shades of yellow-brown to brown and gray, often with blue to blue-green to green tinting that may be somewhat iridescent; tentacles white.
Corallites:
The corallite diameter across the valley varies between 8 and 13 cm, with 15-18 septa per cm. The columella is trabecular and continuous (E. fastigiata-corallite). There are no teeth on the septa.
Habitat:
Inhabit most reef environments, down to 60 m, but most common between 5 and 30 meters.
Distribution:
Common to occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.