Elliptical Star Coral Fossil (Click to view large for fine details, then arrow back)
Elliptical Star Coral (View Large)
Source:
http://www.arkive.org/elliptical-star-coral/dichocoenia-stokesii/image-G73047.html
Because the variety of corals is so vast, it can be difficult to identify species which requires a discreet eye. After close examination and research, I believe I have targeted its identity!
Elliptical star coral is named for its oval elongated shaped corallites or the calcareous cups from which the polyps protrude. Scientifically named Dichocoenia, stokesi, shown above, is a massive colonial coral that forms round humps up to 16 inch (40 centimetres) in diameter. These two characteristics coincide with my fossil quite well.
It is a fairly uncommon species, and has been placed on the Red List for Endangered Species. In 1995 off the Florida Keys, Dichocoenia, stokesi suffered from a disease called white plague which killed 95% of its colonies. It’s a slow growing variety for which the struggle to come back is fast diminishing, unless we humans do something about its plight and that of many other coral varieties.
Kingdoms : Animalia
Phylum: Cnardia (Marine group with stinging cells)
Class: Anthozoa (Flower Animal)
Order: Scleratinia (Modern species of Stony Coral)
Family: Meandrinidae (meandering form)
Genus: Dichocoenia (hump-forming or flattened corals with irregular calyces)
Species: stokesi (elliptical or pineapple star coral)
Blushing Star Coral Fossil (View Large)
Blushing Star Coral Fossil
(Side view showing flat plate form)
Stephanocoenia, intersept have tentacles that are commonly extended during daylight, unlike most coral. When touched, it rapidly retracts them causing a slight color change, which gives this coral its common name of “Blushing Star Coral”. It can be found in Florida, the Caribbean and Central American regions and as far south as Brazil. It’s found in a number of reef habitats including channels and lagoons. It grows massive encrusting colonies forming flattened domes. Corallites can be circular to polygonal. The two characteristics of flattened domes and corallite shapes are in line with my coral fossil shown above.
Nutrition: Like all coral, it has a symbiotic relationship with algae zooxanthellae. Through photosynthesis, the algae provides energy to the coral which in turn homes the algae. Food is caught as it passes by the coral tentacles whereby stinging cells called nematocysts stun and hold onto it.
Its earliest fossil record dates back to the Eocene period between 55 and 33 million years ago.
The Blushing Star Coral is also susceptible to white plague type II which exposes the skeleton by rapid tissue destruction and is also on the Red List of Threatened species.
Blushing Star Cora. (View Large)
Source:
http://reefguide.org/carib/pixhtml/blushingstarcoral2.html
Kingdoms : Animalia
Phylum: Cnardia (Marine group with stinging cells)
Class: Anthozoa (Flower Animal)
Order: Scleratinia (Modern species of Stony Coral)
Family: Astrocoeniid (small family made up of both reef building and non reef building genus, both with and without symbiotic zooxanthellae as well as both branching and encrusting species.
Genus: Stephanocoenia (Colonies are flattened usually with regular, smooth surfaces. Corallites are small and the wall between them may be relatively wide.)
Species: intersepta
