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 BermudaFamily Oculinidae: Oculina Horizon. Retrieved 2011-12-15. 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 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 arbuscula Agassiz, 1864 Oculina diffusa Lamarck, 1816 - zooxanthellate †Oculina halensis Duncan, 1864 Oculina patagonica de Angelis, 1908 - zooxanthellate Oculina profunda Cairns, 1991 Oculina robusta Pourtalès, 1871 Robust ivory tree coral - zooxanthellate Oculina tenella Pourtalès, 1871 †Oculina umbellata Dennant, 1904 Oculina valenciennesi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1850 - zooxanthellate Oculina varicosa Lesueur, 1821 Ivory bush coral - zooxanthellate Oculina virgosa Squires, 1958
References