azooxanthellate

Typical growth pattern is to form small, encrusting groups of 1/2 inch polyps which often do not appear to be connected. Algae, sponges and other organisms overgrow colonies, making polyps somewhat inconspicuous. This species is often found in dark recesses. Color ranges from red-brown to yellow-brown.Grows to depths of 100 feet; however, it is most commonly found in water less than 60 feet deep.

Aruba, Belize, Bonaire, Caribbean Sea, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Guatemala, Gulf of Mexico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

P. americana occurs along the Florida coast and throughout the West Indies. It may also occur to North Carolina, but this extent of its range is questionable. P. americana is typically found on nearshore reefs off coastal Florida, and around inlet areas throughout the Indian River Lagoon.

Typical cup diameter size for Phyllangia americana is 10 mm (1/2 inch).

Depth range based on 198 specimens in 3 taxa.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 76 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 1 - 793
  Temperature range (°C): 9.219 - 27.707
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.271 - 18.404
  Salinity (PPS): 35.250 - 37.326
  Oxygen (ml/l): 3.489 - 5.543
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.043 - 1.144
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.993 - 10.334

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 1 - 793

Temperature range (°C): 9.219 - 27.707

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.271 - 18.404

Salinity (PPS): 35.250 - 37.326

Oxygen (ml/l): 3.489 - 5.543

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.043 - 1.144

Silicate (umol/l): 0.993 - 10.334
 
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Phyllangia americana is considered common on ledges in Indian River Lagoon Inlets and the Intracoastal Waterway.Locomotion: Sessile.

Habitat Structure