Sandy areas in shallow waters. Often found surrounding mangroves.
All oceans; particularly the Indo-Pacific, and around the Caribbean and Hawaii.
Live an upside down life so their symbiotic zoozanthellae can grow more quickly. The symbionts provide some nutrition to the organism. Budding occurs in polyp stage.
Individuals mixed in among Cassiopea frondosa.
Flattened bell-shape (disc-like), with branching oral arms covered in small clusters or paddle-like appendages.
Lacks a central mouth. Bell without marginal tentacles or pedalia, and the stomach is without gastric filaments. Gonads are located on the folds of the gastrodermis.
Locality Isla Colon, Isla Bastimentos; numerous near Bocas station.
Observations When disturbed nematocysts may be found in nearby water column.
Brusca, R.C. and G.J. Brusca. 1990. Chapter 8: Phylum Cnidaria: The Cnidarian Bauplan. Invertebrates. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Humann P & Deloach N (1999). Reef creature identification Florida Caribbean Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc., Jacksonville, FL.