Description:
Lesser starlet corals display significant morphological variation depending on habitat.  Colonies generally form encrusting, flat plates 4- 12 inches across; but  these corals are also be found as round domes.  In disturbed habitats, colonies having spherical shapes have an apparent survival advantage over flat colonies.  Coloration ranges from whitish through gray and tan.  Corallites are generally dark in color. 

Habitat:
Limestone ledges and hard bottom areas are the preferred substrata for Siderastrea radians.

Similar Species:
Can be confused with massive starlet coral, Siderastrea siderea. However, S. radians differs consistently from S. siderea in both coloration pattern, and corallite morphology:  Corallites of lesser starlet coral have more pronounced septae, are darker in color, less symmetrical, and appear more pitted than do those of massive starlet coral.

Range:
Siderastrea radians occurs from Bermuda to South America.  Within the vicinity of the Indian River Lagoon, it occurs around inlets, on intracoastal waterway ledges, and the nearshore reefs of east central Florida.