Blade fire coral
Millepora complanata
Lamarck, 1816
Description:
Colonies form thin, upright blades or plates that extend from an encrusting base. Colonies up to 50 cm. Outer edge of blades uneven with multiple extensions or short branches. The surface is smooth, covered with minute pores within which the polyps live. When the tiny polyps protrude, they appear as short, fine hairs.
Color:
Brown to light creamy yellow, with white branch tips.
Habitat:
Inhabit shallow water reef tops, covering rock and dead corals. Usually in areas with some water movements, down to 15 m depth.
Distribution:
Abundant to common Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks:
Contact with a live colony may cause severe burning sensations due to toxins injected by the nematocysts.