Large flower coral (Mussa angulosa)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Faviidae · Genus: Mussa.

Accepted name: Mussa angulosa · Authority: (Pallas, 1766) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 216135.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Caryophyllia angulosa (Pallas, 1766); Lithophyllia argemone Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860; Lithophyllia cylindrica Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860; Lithophyllia dubia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860; Lobophyllia angulosa (Pallas, 1766); Lobophyllia carduus (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Madrepora angulosa Pallas, 1766; Madrepora carduus Ellis & Solander, 1786; Madrepora fastigiata Ellis & Solander, 1786; Mussa angulosa f. angulosa (Pallas, 1766); Mussa carduus (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Mussa fastigiata (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Scolymia dubia (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=216135 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Mussa angulosa. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Depth range: 0–55 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 116012. Zooxanthellate (Ref. 116012). Occurs in most reef environments (Ref. 848). Also in submarine caves (Ref. 87209).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45784) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Mussa-angulosa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

11,917 georeferenced occurrence records for Mussa angulosa are published through GBIF from 29 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 55 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 6 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Virgin Islands (U.S.) (5,058); United States of America (4,122); Puerto Rico (1,966); Guadeloupe (228); Colombia (149).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2260356) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2260356&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=216135 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Mussa angulosa (Pallas 1766) as Near Threatened (code NT). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 133457) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133457/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2260356) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2260356/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Mussa angulosa is a colonial species and the whole clump forms a low dome that may reach 50 cm across. The corallites are phaceloid, that is they have a tubular form growing from a common base, in series of one to three, or occasionally up to five. The individual corallites are large, being 25 to 45 mm in diameter and up to 6 mm high. There are four cycles of septa in each corallite, nearly equal in size; they are narrow and curved, with wide spacing. The individual polyps are very large, sometimes reaching a length of 12 cm and a diameter of 4 cm. They completely obscure the short branches of the stony skeleton on which they occur. During the day the polyps appear fleshy, but during the night they expand further and each is fringed by a rim of short tentacles. The colour of the polyps is variable, being grey or pale brown with green, pink and purple shades. The tissues of this coral contain symbiotic single-celled algae called zooxanthellae. These are photosynthetic and absorb energy from the sun to create organic compounds which are used by the coral.

Mussa angulosa occurs in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas, and on reefs and banks off the coast of Texas and southern Florida. It is found in water between 3 and 60 m deep but most often between 10 and 30 m.

Mussa angulosa is a reef-building species and is aggressive, attacking other fast-growing corals that start to grow close by and threaten to overgrow it or shade it. Its cnidocytes are so powerful that no other Caribbean corals can successfully attack it. It leans away from the current as it grows and reacts adversely to increased sedimentation.

There are no specific threats facing this coral and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists it as being near threatened. It is however probably declining because of the degradation of coral reefs by mechanical damage, climate change and ocean acidification. It is susceptible to coral bleaching and the coral diseases that affect stressed corals. Off the coasts of the United States it is present in various marine parks and other conservation areas, in both of which it is protected.

Source: Wikipedia: Mussa angulosa — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mussa_angulosa (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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