Oculina diffusa

Not to be confused with ivory bush coral.

Oculina diffusa, commonly known as the diffuse ivory bush coral or ivory tree coral, is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.^[3] 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.

Oculina diffusa
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Subphylum:	Anthozoa
Class:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Oculinidae
Genus:	Oculina
Species:	O. diffusa
Binomial name
Oculina diffusa Lamarck, 1816 [2]
Synonyms
Madrepora virginea Lamarck, 1816

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

Oculina diffusa reproduces sexually by broadcast spawning. In shallow water, this is believed to occur between July and August, and during September in deeper water.^[4] After being planktonic, the larva sinks to the bottom where it grows into a polyp. This produces buds asexually and develops into a colony.