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 50 metres (164 ft). It is characterised by large, domed colonies, which may be up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) 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 (0.8 in). 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.