Habitat

E. quadricolor is found across a broad bathymetric range with morphs inhabiting both the reef crest and reef slope. The polyps collected at Heron Island were found on the rocky reef crest on the southern side of the island. All five specimens were collected from Acropora clumps or the underside of displaced dead coral plates, exposed to partial sun light but protected from high energy water currents. A similar pattern was identified in a previous study at the Solitary Islands where again small solitary polyps generally attached to the underside of small rocks (Richardson et al 1997). Larger polyps were found in the deeper water on the reef slope were found secured deep into rock crevices such that only the tips often tentacles are visible (Richardson et al 1997).