Blushing star coral
Stephanocoenia michelinii
Edwards & Haime, 1848
Description:
This species forms small to moderately large heads (15-75 cm) and is often simply encrusting.
Color:
Brownish. On approaching this coral, the polyps withdraw giving the colony a blushing appearance.
Corallites:
Columella massive, more or less laterally compressed. Septa in three cycles, the first two with pali or with paliform lobes attached to the columella.
Habitat:
Probably generally present in exposed waters; not very common. From 1 to nearly 100 m, but most common between 3 and 50 m.
Distribution:
Throughout the Caribbean.