Ivory Bush Coral

Coastal Habitats

Animals of the Nearshore Waters 

Ivory Bush Coral

Oculina diffusa

Ivory bush coral, like most corals, is a colony of individual animals called apolups. These polyps are connected by living tissue and produce a stony skeleton to support and protect themselves. Oculina, the scientific name of ivory bush coral, probably comes from the eyelike appearance of its polyps.

Animals of the Nearshore Waters

Learn more by clicking on the links below.

Brown Tube Sponge

Red Boring Sponge

Red-Orange Encrusting Sponge

Tree Oyster

Ivory Bush Coral

Cup Coral

Pearly Red Encrusting Bryozoan

Black Drum

Crevalle Jack

Florida Pompano

Sand Seatrout

Tarpon

Gulf Kingfish

Southern Kingfish

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Pigfish

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• Jetties
• Nearshore Waters
• Gulf Waters