Colpophyllia

Colpophyllia
Along the northern coast of Haiti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Mussidae
Genus: Colpophyllia
Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1848
Species:
C. natans
Binomial name
Colpophyllia natans
(Houttuyn, 1772)
Synonyms
List

(Species)

  • Colpophyllia amaranthus (Houttuyn, 1772)
  • Colpophyllia breviserialis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849
  • Colpophyllia gyrosa (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
  • Madrepora gyrosa Ellis & Solander, 1786
  • Madrepora natans Houttuyn, 1772
  • Meandrina gyrosa (Ellis & Solander, 1786)

Colpophyllia is a genus of stony corals in the family Mussidae. It is monotypic with a single species, Colpophyllia natans, commonly known as boulder brain coral or large-grooved brain coral.[2] It inhabits the slopes and tops of reefs, to a maximum depth of fifty metres. It is characterised by large, domed colonies, which may be up to two metres across, and by the meandering network of ridges and valleys on its surface. The ridges are usually brown with a single groove, and the valleys may be tan, green, or white and are uniform in width, typically 2 centimetres. The polyps only extend their tentacles at night.

  1. ^ Goergen, L.; Vermeij, M. (2022). "Colpophyllia natans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T132884A165613226. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Colpophyllia". World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Retrieved 2018-08-12.