Diaseris distorta

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Characters: Polyps consist of fan-shaped segments up to 40 millimetres wide. Thick beaded septa are of unequal height. Polyps are commonly inflated with water to several times the volume of the skeleton. Colour: Cream or brown, sometimes mottled. Similar species: Diaseris fragilis, which is larger with thinner margins and has septa of uniform height. Habitat: Soft substrates, especially where exposed to currents. Sometimes found in seagrass beds. Abundance: Uncommon, but may be plentiful where it occurs.

Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Veron and Pichon (1980). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995), Coles (1996).