Florida corallimorpharian (Ricordea florida)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Corallimorpharia · Family: Ricordeidae · Genus: Ricordea.

Accepted name: Ricordea florida · Authority: Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 290995.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Corynactis bahamensis Watzl, 1922; Heteranthus floridus (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860); Ricordia florida.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=290995 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

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

Habitat zone: reef-associated.

SeaLifeBase notes: This is an epibenthic species found on rocky bottoms and coral reefs particularly in subtidal areas (Ref. 83915).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 44830) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Ricordea-florida.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,979 georeferenced occurrence records for Ricordea florida are published through GBIF from 25 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 61 distinct locations from a sample of 1,979 records, omitting 15 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: Puerto Rico (1,652); Guadeloupe (99); Colombia (29); Panama (21); Belize (19).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2260685) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2260685&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=290995 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Ricordea florida is a coral without a skeleton, having the same internal anatomical structure as corals of the order Scleractinia.

The body of the coral is small and cylindrical. The basal end resembles a flat disk that functions as a foot. The apical end is the oral disk which functions as one or more mouths.

These mouths are centered amid short rounded tentacles bearing cnidocytes, whose sting contains paralytic neurotoxins. The sting is used to subdue prey to make it more easily ingested via the mouth, or as a defensive mechanism to evade enemies. The stinging ability of this species is lower than in most corals.

Ricordea florida reaches 7.5 cm in diameter. The fleshy body and tentacles can be found in a variety of colours, including purple, orange, green, blue and yellow. The tips of the tentacles and the mouth may be one or more different colours. The colour of Ricordea florida depends on various factors, including the depth at which they live, the temperature, the season, and other environmental factors.

Habitat and distribution

Ricordea florida is found in the interior of reefs, usually in shallow water, rocky areas, and pools. It is found alone or in small groups. They are known to inhabit the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Food

As with other corals, Ricordea florida is host to a symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae. These algae undergo photosynthesis producing oxygen and sugars which are then used by the coral. The zooxanthellae also feed on the catabolites of the coral (especially phosphorus and nitrogen). Ricordea florida feed both on the products of zooxanthellae, and on zooplankton or fish they catch with their tentacles, along with dissolved organic matter in the water.

Reproduction

Asexual reproduction can be accomplished by two mechanisms. Split or fission reproduction occurs when the coral splits along its mouth creating a clone. Alternatively, particulates released from the foot can develop into a new specimen, which is called laceration.

Sexual reproduction produces a larva called a planula which once on the seabed develops into a new individual.

Source: Wikipedia: Ricordea florida — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricordea_florida (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.