Astrangia
Astrangia is a genus of small, solitary, or colonial stony corals in the family Astrangiidae. This genus is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Common Names
Common names for Astrangia include:
- Star coral
- Sun coral
- Pearly coral
Characteristics
Astrangia corals are typically small, with colonies rarely exceeding a few inches in diameter. They are characterized by their distinctive star-shaped corallites (individual coral polyps) that have a central opening (mouth) surrounded by six or more radiating septa (vertical partitions). The septa are often ornamented with spines or granules. The coral polyps are typically white or pale brown in color, but they can also be tinged with pink, orange, or yellow.
Environments
Astrangia corals are found in a variety of shallow-water habitats, including:
- Rocky reefs
- Seagrass beds
- Sponges
- Oyster reefs
They are typically found in depths of 1 to 30 meters and prefer clear, well-oxygenated waters with moderate to high levels of light.