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Mycedium elephantotus
Colonies of M. elephantotus occur in attractive shades of green, purple, pink -- highly iridescent colors. The calice centers usually have a different color to the greener inter-corallite tissue. The relatively large corallites are always inclined outward, towards the edges of the colony's "leaves". Young colonies show a large central calice. It may form colonies of up to a meter across in sheltered areas, but would be smaller on fore-reef slopes. Polyps are extended only at night. Color: usually a uniform brown, grey, green or pink but may have green or red oral discs and may have a colored margin around the colony.
This species is found at various depths on fore- and back reef slopes. It can also tolerate sedimented lagoons, partly due to a tendency to grow on vertical faces in such habitats.
Spotted this smallish colony in about 12m of water at Angel's Cove, Talikud Island.
2 Comments
It looked really pretty underwater, Alice. :)
Cool Spotting!