Sealife guideThe labyrinthine brain coralDiploria labyrinthiformis
Last updated on 05/03/2024 at 12:19 AM
Taxonomy
- Common name: Labyrinthine brain coral, grooved brain coral, depressed brain coral, brain coral
- French name: Corail cerveau de Neptune
- Spanish name: Coral cerebro
- Scientific name: Diploria labyrinthiformis (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Family name: Faviidae
- Order name: Scleractinia
- Class name: The anthozoans [Anthozoa]
Description
The labyrinthine brain coral forms colonies that look like large balls, ranging in size from a few centimeters in diameter to almost 2 meters for the largest. The labyrinthine brain coral has a succession of hills and valleys on its surface, giving it the appearance of a brain !

The labyrinthine brain coral forms colonies that look like large balls
Its distinctive double-crested hills are separated by a shallow gorge of varying width.
Did you know ?
The labyrinthine brain coral is listed as many other marine species within The
IUCN Red List of threatened species. The labyrinthine brain coral appears in the
IUCN Red List since 2022 within the category Critically Endangered !

The labyrinthine brain coral is distinguished by its double-peaked hills separated by a gorge
Discover also

Black sea nettle
(Chrysaora achlyos)

Bladed fire coral
(Millepora complanata)

Cylinder anemone
(Cerianthus membranaceus)

Elkhorn coral
(Acropora palmata)

Fried egg jellyfish
(Cotylorhiza tuberculata)

Magnificent sea anemone
(Radianthus magnifica)

Pharaoh coral
(Acropora parapharaonis)

Yellow encrusting sea anemone
(Parazoanthus axinellae)
The marine species from Caribbean sea

Blackbar soldierfish
(Myripristis jacobus)

Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis)

Labyrinthine brain coral
(Diploria labyrinthiformis)

Peacock flounder
(Bothus lunatus)

Redband parrotfish
(Sparisoma aurofrenatum)

Scrawled cowfish
(Acanthostracion quadricornis)

Stoplight parrotfish
(Sparisoma viride)

White grunt
(Haemulon plumierii)
Dive centers

'Les Ilets' dive center

Noa dive center
Our latestUpdates

Thursday, May 7th 2026
Faroe islands
Discover the Faroe islands, a remote archipelago between Iceland and Norway known for its dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, and untouched Nordic landscapes. Find travel tips, itineraries, hiking guides, local culture, and inspiration to explore this unique destination in the North Atlantic.

Wednesday, May 6th 2026
The short-finned pilot whale
Discover the tropical pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), a highly social large cetacean from tropical and subtropical waters, specialized in deep dives in search of squid.

Thursday, April 23rd 2026
Where to see groupers in the Mediterranean ?
Discover where to see groupers in the Mediterranean: the best diving spots and protected marine areas to observe this iconic fish in its natural habitat.
Photo of the Day

Padine
(Padina pavonica)