Elliptical star coral
Dichocoenia stokesi
Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848
Description:
Colonies form rounded heads, domes or flattened plates. Rounded colonies may reach 40 cm in diameter. The corallites protrude and are irregular, elliptical, circular or Y-shaped.
Color:
Cream to yellow and brown.
Corallites:
Corallites 3.5-4.5 mm in diameter. Columella trabecular and weak.
Habitat:
Inhabit most reef environments, down to 70 m.
Distribution:
Occasional Florida, common in the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
The flattened plate form is also known as the Pancake star coral (Dichocoenia stellaris ).