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Figure 16. These photos show typical growth habits of the most common species of stinging coral in Florida, the hydrocoral Millepora. Lack of the black spiny sea urchin Diadema antillarum indicates the photos were taken after a Caribbean-wide die-off of the urchin in 1983-84 (Lessios et al., 1984). (A) Millepora complanata (bladed). (B) A field of M. complanata surrounds a brain coral (Diploria or Colpophyllia species) visible in background. (C) Millepora alcicornis (encrusting). Entire sea fan has been coated with a living layer of M. alcicornis. (D) Millepora complanata overgrowing a dying Montastrea annularis head coral.

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Coastal & Marine Geology Program > Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies > Professional Paper 1751