Pillar coral
Dendrogyra cylindrus
Ehrenberg, 1834
Description:
Colonies form numerous, heavy, cylindrical spires, that grow upwards from an encrusting base mass. The colonies can attain a height of 3 meter, with a pillar diameter of more than 10 cm. Polyps are normally extended during the day, giving the colony a fuzzy appearance and obscuring the long, meandroid, corallite series.
Color:
Light tan to golden brown and chocolate brown.
Corallites:
Corallites less than 1 cm in width, with a columella composed of discontinuous lamella.
Habitat:
Inhabit flat and slightly sloping bottoms, down to 20 m.
Distribution:
Occasional to rare in Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.