Habitat: Often grows near living coral. Common on mangroves, and shallow reefs. Distribution: Caribbean, Bermuda, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Brasil, North Carolina. Depth: 5-65ft. Characteristics: Massive-amorphous, globular, encrusting, flabellate or ramose. Reddish-brown to grey externally and tan internally. Conulose surface (1-2 mm high, 2-3 mm apart). Membrane-bearing oscules (1-8 mm wide), with white or dark rims, scattered. Compressible but extremely tough to be cut.