About Turbinaria mesenterina (Lamarck, 1816)
Turbinaria mesenterina is a species of stony coral that grows as an encrusting layer, or forms flat or vase-shaped plates with corallites (skeletal cup structures for polyps) present only on one surface. Its corallites are conical and measure approximately 2 mm (0.08 in) in diameter. The overall form of this coral is quite variable, changing to match its depth of growth and surrounding water conditions. In the Arabian region, it is very common growing on sand and other sediments, where it forms groups of vertical, interlocking plates that are typically greenish yellow, greenish grey, or greyish brown. On upper reef slopes, colonies grow as upright or tiered plates, while in deeper water the plates are horizontal. This species occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with a range that extends from East Africa and the Red Sea to Taiwan, French Polynesia, and eastern Australia. It is common in most reef environments, and can be the dominant coral species in turbid habitats. Turbinaria mesenterina is a zooxanthellate coral, meaning it hosts symbiotic dinoflagellates within its tissues. It thrives in turbid water and is tolerant of high levels of sedimentation. It can clear accumulated sediment from its surface within a few hours, and may gain extra nutrition from feeding on organic matter present in sediment. Researchers have suggested that increased sedimentation on Australia's Great Barrier Reef could lead to reef communities becoming dominated by a small number of sediment-tolerant coral species like Turbinaria mesenterina.
