831 species

Oculina diffusa

Lamarck, 1816

Oculina

Gray, 1847

Characters: Colonies are compact or prostrate clumps of short, thin, highly fused, branches. Corallites are up to 5 millimetres diameter and have neat round exsert walls. Long and short septa only slightly alternate. Costae form fine striae over the coenosteum surface.

Colour: Tan with dark calices. Azooxanthellate colonies are white.

Similar Species: Oculina valenciennesi, which does not form compact thickets of fused branches. See also O. varicosa.

Habitat: Shallow reef environments.

Abundance: Rare.

Taxonomic References: Zlatarski and Estalella (1982);

Identification Guides: Humann (2002);

COTW History since Veron (2000a)
  • Family: All families are currently under review
  • Genus/species: No change