Biology: 5 Reef Animals

5. Grooved brain coral

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Groved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis)

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The grooved brain coral is a brown or yellow hemispherical-shaped reef-building coral occurring in the Caribbean. It is most commonly found on offshore reefs at depths between 1 and 30 meters. The distinction between depth occurrences relies heavily on water quality.The grooved brain coral grows to about 2 meters in diameter. Bermudian brain corals such as D. labyrinthiformis grow upward at a rate of about 3.5 millimeters per year.

It is found in the Caribbean, the Bahamas, southern Florida, and Bermuda. D. labyrinthiformis polyps depend mostly on suspension feeding methods to obtain nourishment. By using their tentacles and extruded mesenterial filaments, the polyps prey primarily on zooplankton and bacteria.

Unfortunately, one of the least studied aspects of the degradation of the world’s coral reefs is coral disease and bleaching, and their relationship to the environment. The most recent research involving Diploria labyrinthiformis is in response to the increased occurrences of bleachng and disease. A major threat is global warming. Studies have shown that both bleaching and disease, such as black band and white plague, are associated with increased seawater temperatures.

Sources:
Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda
Wikipedia