Dichocoenia stellaris

Dichocoenia stellaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Meandrinidae
Genus:	Dichocoenia
Species:	D. stellaris
Binomial name
Dichocoenia stellaris Milne Edwards & Haime

Dichocoenia stellaris, commonly known as pancake star coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Meandrinidae. It is found in the West Indies and the Bahamas. Its form is a flat, platform-like structure and it is usually found in deeper water than the closely related pineapple coral (Dichocoenia stokesi). Some authorities consider these to be the same species while other authorities regard them as distinct.

Dichocoenia stellaris is a massive colonial coral that forms thick plates. The corallites, the stony cups that support the coral polyps, are round or slightly elongated and seldom Y-shaped, a fact that distinguishes this species from Dichocoenia stokesi which has very irregular corallites. The colour is usuarly green, olive or brown.

Dichocoenia stellaris occurs in the Bahamas, Bonaire, Puerto Rico and Jamaica, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida. It grows at depths ranging from 2 to 72 metres (6 to 236 feet). The corallites are larger and more prominent in individuals growing at greater depths.

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