Oculina
| Oculina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Oculina varicosa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Subclass: | Zoantharia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Oculinidae |
| Genus: | Oculina Lamarck, 1816 [1] |
| Species | |
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| |
Oculina is a genus of colonial stony coral in the family Oculinidae. These corals are mostly found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda [2] but some species occur in the east Pacific Ocean. They occur at depths down to 1000 metres.[1]
Description
The colonies of Oculina have a straggly branching structure and are mostly pale yellow. The branches are slim, not exceeding 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter. The corallites which house the polyps are widely separated. Their walls are composed of fragile, solid-walled tubes. Each corallite has 12 primary septa with fine teeth which partially project from the corallite wall and which are larger than the intermediate septa. Some species contain symbiotic microalgae called zooxanthellae.[2]
Species
The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species:[1]
- Oculina arbuscula Agassiz, 1864
- Oculina diffusa Lamarck, 1816 - zooxanthellate
- Oculina patagonica de Angelis, 1908 - zooxanthellate
- Oculina profunda Cairns, 1991
- Oculina robusta Pourtalès, 1871 Robust ivory tree coral - zooxanthellate
- Oculina tenella Pourtalès, 1871
- Oculina valenciennesi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1850 - zooxanthellate
- Oculina varicosa Lesueur, 1821 Ivory bush coral - zooxanthellate
- Oculina virgosa Squires, 1958
References
- 1 2 3 WoRMS (2010). "Oculina Lamarck, 1816". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- 1 2 Family Oculinidae: Oculina Horizon. Retrieved 2011-12-15.