Oculina
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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 but some species occur in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They occur at depths down to 1000 metres.
Description
The colonies of Oculina have a straggly branching structure and are mostly pale yellow. The branches are slim, not exceeding 1 centimetre (0.4 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.
Species
The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species:
- Oculina arbusculaAgassiz, 1864
- Oculina diffusaLamarck, 1816 - zooxanthellate
- †Oculina halensisDuncan, 1864
- Oculina patagonicade Angelis, 1908 - zooxanthellate
- Oculina profundaCairns, 1991
- Oculina robustaPourtalès, 1871 Robust ivory tree coral - zooxanthellate
- Oculina tenellaPourtalès, 1871
- †Oculina umbellataDennant, 1904
- Oculina valenciennesiMilne Edwards & Haime, 1850 - zooxanthellate
- Oculina varicosaLesueur, 1821 Ivory bush coral - zooxanthellate
- Oculina virgosaSquires, 1958