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Field Guide to Western Atlantic Coral Diseases and Other Causes of Coral Mortality
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Types of Coral Disease and Their Identification

Predators and Black-Band Disease (BBD)

Fireworms (Hermodice carunculata), coral-eating snails (Coralliophila abbreviata) and other invertebrates are commonly seen feeding on coral tissue adjacent to black-band disease. A variety of smaller organisms such as flatworms, ciliates, nematodes, amphipods, protozoans and fungi may inhabit the band, but these are only visible with a microscope.

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Two fireworms (Hermodice carunculata) feeding on brain coral (D. strigosa) tissue adjacent to a BBD infection

Related pages:

Black-Band Disease
Predators

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A camouflaged mithrax (Mithrax sculptus) crab near the BBD microbial mat on star coral.
 

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Text and photographs: Andrew Bruckner (andy.bruckner@noaa.gov) of NOAA Fisheries
Page design: James O'Carroll (james.ocarroll@unep-wcmc.org) of UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
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