The Solitary Disk Coral (Scolymia cubensis) is a solitary marine (saltwater) stony coral in the Mussidae family. It is not a plant.
The Solitary Disk Coral is flat and concave with a circular shape, like an inverted cone. It can be light-green, beige, or deep rusty red. It has layers of thick plates called septa that surround a central mouth with spongy polyps.
It grows up to 10 centimetres (4 inches) across.
It is found in the waters off the coast of Bermuda and Jamaica. It prefers reef slopes and in lagoons on sandy or muddy bottoms. It likes dark places.
The Solitary Disk Coral feeds on zooplankton and zooxanthellae.
It is solitary and does not form colonies.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM