Size
Arm length: reaching 12.5cm (5") Disc diameter: reaching 2.5cm (1")
Recognition Characters
Disc is most commonly hemispherical but sometimes angular. Arms have tiny adpressed spines. Disc is covered by small rounded granules. Arms are long and remain constant in size for some distance, only gradually tapering near distal end of arm tip; arms are often in a banded or striped pattern.
Color
Highly variable. Color can be uniform or harlequin. Uniform individuals are gray, green, or brown. Harlequin individuals can be flecked, mottled, or have maze-like patterns on disc with green, white, black, or yellow colors. Arms are banded with dark and light colors.
Habitat & Depth
Coral and temperate reefs. Also seagrass beds and areas of coral rubble and rock. Often remain in protected crevices and recesses or under foliose soft corals on reef. To 25m.
Distribution at GRNMS
Rare. Often times hidden in cracks or crevices within reef.
Geographic Range
South Carolina south to Brazil. Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Bermuda
Behavior & Notes
Synonyms
Hendler et al. 1995