Hydrozoans

Stylaster stellulatus

• Group: Other
• Typical depth: 5–7 m

A lace coral that builds delicate calcified colonies in shallow water around Micronesia, mostly between five and seven metres. Despite looking like stony coral it is a hydrozoan, related to the venomous fire corals, and its hard branches shelter tiny feeding polyps.

Taxonomy: Animalia › Cnidaria › Hydrozoa › Anthoathecata › Stylasteridae › Stylaster

Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 285911.