Scolymia lacera is a scientific name historically used to identify a species of scleractinian (stony) coral within the family Mussidae. It has been commonly referred to in biological literature and the marine aquarium trade as a "mushroom coral," "disk coral," or "button coral."
Taxonomy and Classification
The species was originally described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766 under the name Madrepora lacera. It was later moved to the genus Scolymia. Contemporary taxonomic assessments, including those by the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), generally categorize Scolymia lacera (Pallas, 1766) as a junior synonym of Mussa angulosa.
In some historical contexts, the name was also applied to specimens that were later reclassified as Scolymia wellsii or Scolymia cubensis. Because of these revisions, the name Scolymia lacera is largely considered an obsolete or invalid taxon in modern biological nomenclature, although it persists in older texts and various specimen catalogs.
Physical Characteristics
When identified as Scolymia lacera, the organism is described as having a solitary or small-grouping growth form. It features a large, fleshy polyp that covers a circular or slightly oval stony skeleton (corallum). The septa—the radial skeletal plates—are thick and characterized by large, blunt teeth or lobes. These skeletal features are often obscured during the day when the polyp is fully expanded. The color of the tissue is highly variable, often appearing in shades of green, brown, gray, or red, sometimes with mottled patterns.
Distribution and Habitat
The coral species associated with this name are primarily found in the tropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. Its habitat typically includes reef slopes and fore-reef environments. It is frequently located at depths where light levels are moderate to low, generally between 10 and 50 meters, as it tends to avoid areas with high-energy wave action and intense surface illumination.
Ecology
Like other members of the Mussidae family, the organism is zooxanthellate, meaning it maintains a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) living within its tissues. This relationship provides the coral with nutrients derived from sunlight. Additionally, the polyp is a carnivore, extending tentacles primarily at night to capture zooplankton and organic particles from the surrounding water. It is known to be aggressive toward neighboring corals, using stinging cells (nematocysts) to defend its space on the reef substrate.