Agaricia

Agaricia is a genus of stony corals belonging to the family Agariciidae. These corals are commonly known as leafy or sunflower corals due to their flattened, leaf-like or plate-like structures, which can grow in large colonies. Species within the Agaricia genus are found in the shallow waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. They are characterized by their thin, fragile skeletons, often forming overlapping plates or fronds that can reach considerable size.

The morphology of Agaricia corals can vary significantly between species and even within the same colony, influenced by environmental factors such as light availability and water movement. They typically exhibit a platy or foliaceous growth form. The corallites, which are the individual skeletal cups housing the polyps, are usually small and arranged in shallow furrows or on the surface of the plates. Their coloration can range from brown and green to yellowish hues, often depending on the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living within their tissues.

Agaricia corals are important reef-builders in their native habitats, contributing to the structural complexity of coral reefs. They are suspension feeders, capturing plankton and other small organic particles from the water column. Like many reef-building corals, they are sensitive to changes in water temperature, salinity, and pollution, making them potential indicators of reef health. Reproduction typically occurs through broadcast spawning, with larvae settling on suitable substrate to form new colonies.