Maze coral (Meandrina meandrites)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Meandrina meandrites
- Common name
- Maze coral
- Category
- Corals
- Family
- Meandrinidae
- Genus
- Meandrina
- Size
- 15–100 cm
- Depth
- 1–80 m
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- sessile, colonial
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Meandrina meandrites forms dome colonies 15 cm to 1 m, brown to yellow-brown. Characteristic surface: meandering sinuous valleys with no walls between them, recalling a maze or brain. Distinctive feature: polyps often extended during the day, resembling small packed anemones. Translucent white tentacles. Caribbean reefs from 1 to 80 m. Sensitive to coral diseases, IUCN Vulnerable.
Photo of Maze coral
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Maze coral?
- Maze coral (Meandrina meandrites) reaches 15–100 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Maze coral?
- Maze coral is found between 1–80 m deep.
- Is the Maze coral dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Maze coral?
- IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU).
- Where can you find the Maze coral?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the family Meandrinidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 289232)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2259752)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia