Category: Jellies, Anemones and kin view all from this category

Description 96" (244 cm) high, 96" (244 cm) wide. Convex, heavy boulders with winding, interconnected valleys 1/4" (6 mm) deep, and 3/8" (10 mm) wide. Bright orange-yellow to brownish-yellow. Walls between valleys thick, with longitudinal groove.

Habitat Abundant on reefs; in shallow water.

Range Florida to Texas and Mexico; Bermuda; Bahamas; West Indies.

Discussion The young brain coral newly settled on a solid substrate has one polyp in a round cup. The cup begins to elongate as it grows, folding and twisting into "valleys." The polyp is thus stretched into a long and contorted mass that appears brainlike.