Kingdom Animalia Genus Oculina Phylum Cnidaria Rank Species | Family Oculinidae Scientific name Oculina diffusa Higher classification Oculina Order Scleractinia | |
Similar Oculina, Scleractinia, Ivory bush coral, Isophyllia sinuosa, Mussa angulosa | ||
Oculina diffusa (commonly referred to as ivory bush coral) is a coral found mainly on the east coast of central Florida. It is also found in North Carolina, Burma, the Bahamas, and West Indies. It is found in shallow water, usually down to 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep but occasionally as deep as 20 metres (66 ft). Its colonies are dense and have a yellow-brown color. It favours areas with high amounts of sedimentation.
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Physical appearance
Colonies of Oculina diffusa are usually about 30 centimetres (12 in) in diameter and have twisting narrow branches less than half an inch in diameter. Colonies have been recorded at temperatures ranging from 13–31 degrees Celsius.
Food
Oculina diffusa normally eat plankton and small fish, though some have also been known to filter feed on tiny particles in the water.
Reproduction
The ivory bush coral reproduces sexually by broadcast spawning. In shallow water, this is believed to occur between July and August, and during September in deeper water. After being planktonic, the larva sinks to the bottom where it grows into a polyp. This produces buds asexually and develops into a colony.