Distribution and ecology
A typical Caribbean coral reef in Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles. © www.istockphoto.com
Diploria labyrinthiformis is a typical common coral of reefs and other shallow water habitats of the Atlantic (including Caribbean) region.
Its fossil record is also entirely from this region. The oldest fossils are from the Pliocene epoch 5.33 million years ago.
Like many other scleractinian corals in these environments, this coral is zooxanthellate (has single-celled symbiotic dinoflagellate algae living within its cells). As a result the coral can only survive in waters lit adequately for photosynthesis (not more than 10s of metres deep).
Ecologically D. labyrinthiformis occurs in a wide range of environments. It is often found in marginal inshore conditions where few other species occur, but it is also a major reef-builder in optimum but slightly deeper reef areas.
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The first collected specimen of Theobroma cacao, the plant from which chocolate is made, is kept in the Museum.