Our Belize Vacation
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    • Ambergris Caye >
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      • Where To Stay - Dangriga
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    • Toledo District >
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  • THINGS TO DO
    • Best of Belize
    • Things To Do >
      • Foods of Belize
    • Unguided Activities
    • Diving
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Sailing
    • Adrenaline
    • Jungle
    • Caving
    • Mayan Temples

CORAL & SPONGES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

The following guide should help you identify the various marine life, that you may see while on your diving adventure tour.  All of these animals are indigenous to the waters of Belize.

While it would be impractical to list all of the species you are most likely to see these, while diving in Belize.  This section will identify some of the more common forms of marine life that you may encounter.

CORAL

The coral reef is an association of ancient life forms that has been in existence for thousands of years.  Its structure is dependent on individual coral polyps that range in size from a pinhead to one foot across.  The slitlike mouth opening of each polyp is surrounded by tentacles that may sting and trap food.  Limestone that builds reefs is produced by cells on the lower sides and bottom of the polyps.  Living within reef corals are minute plant cells called zooxanthellae.  These organisms are the primary source of color in reef coral, which varies locally.  Each species has its own growth pattern.

Sheet Coral

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Flower Coral

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Club Finger Coral

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Yellow Pencil Coral

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Mountain Star Coral

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Scroll Coral

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Leaf Coral

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Fused Staghorn Coral

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Staghorn Coral

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Ivory Bush Coral

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Ribbon Coral

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Elliptical Star Coral

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Pillar Coral

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Green Cactus Coral

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Smooth Starlet Coral

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Rough Starlet Coral

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GOLFBALL CORAL

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May encrust on rocks or form golfball size pebbles.

BLUSHING STAR CORAL

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Blushes white when touched.  Note the pale center in each cup.

LARGE FLOWER CORAL

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Branches have oval cups at the ends.

KNOBBY BRAIN CORAL

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Forms flat mats or mounds up to three feet wide with an irregular, knobbed surface.

CAVERNOUS STAR CORAL

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Has large projecting cups with ribbed sides.  Boulders or plates may exceed five feet wide.

MUSTARD HILL CORAL

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Sometimes encrusts dead coral.

ORANGE TUBE CORAL

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Has tubular cups that project shallowly from its clumpsy encrusting base.

SMOOTH STAR CORAL

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Is somewhat like lobed star coral, but has smaller cups.  It forms rounded domes rather than irregular lobed masses or crusts.

GIANT BRAIN CORAL

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Has a halfway break along the sides of its deep ridges, often associated with a color change from green to brown.  Mounds reach six feet wide.

LOBED STAR CORAL

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With its raised cups, has a "blistered" look.  Height is about two feet.

GROOVED BRAIN CORAL

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Has a deep groove along the center of its ridges.  Size is three feet.

BUTTERPRINT BRAIN CORAL

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Forms mounds two feet wide.

ELKHORN CORAL

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Is a master builder of shallow reefs.  It has flattened, palmate branches.  Colonies can grow six to ten feet high, and cover acres of reef.


SPONGES


BORING SPONGE

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YELLOW TUBE SPONGE

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BARRELL SPONGE

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ORANGE WALL SPONGE

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RED WALL SPONGE

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BLUE BELL TUNICATE

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VASE SPONGE

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GIANT TUBE SPONGE

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Where To Stay
Ambergris
Caye Caulker
Islands - Atolls
Placencia
Cayo
Belize City
Dangriga
Hopkins
Orange Walk
Corozal
Toledo

Our Belize Vacation
Ambergris Caye, Coconut Drive
San Pedro, Belize


What To Do
Scuba Diving
Snorkeling
Reef Fishing
Sailing in Belize
Jungles & Parks
Caving Systems
Maya Temples
Spa Treatments

          All Rights Reserved.  Copyright @ 2021
  • Home Page
  • About Belize
    • Where is Belize?
    • Belize Information >
      • Calendar of Events
    • Traveling to Belize >
      • International Airport
      • Arriving To Belize
      • Leaving Belize
    • Traveling in Belize >
      • Water Taxi Transfers
      • Land Shuttle Transfers
      • Golf Cart Rentals
    • Travel Tips
    • Travel Insurance
    • FAQ
  • WHERE TO STAY
    • Best Accommodations
    • Ambergris Caye >
      • Where To Stay >
        • Belize Budget Suites
      • About San Pedro
    • Caye Caulker >
      • Where To Stay
    • Islands & Atolls >
      • Where To Stay
      • Where To Eat
    • Cayo District >
      • Where To Stay
    • Belize District >
      • Where to Stay
    • Stann Creek District >
      • Where To Stay - Dangriga
      • Where To Stay - Hopkins
    • Orange Walk >
      • Where to Stay
      • Things To Do
    • Corozal District >
      • Where To Stay
    • Toledo District >
      • Where To Stay
      • Where to Eat
  • THINGS TO DO
    • Best of Belize
    • Things To Do >
      • Foods of Belize
    • Unguided Activities
    • Diving
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing
    • Sailing
    • Adrenaline
    • Jungle
    • Caving
    • Mayan Temples