Muricea muricata is a spiny gorgonian coral (family Plexauridae) forming densely branching colonies in shallow Caribbean reef environments, particularly on exposed reef crests and upper fore-reefs, with a bushy growth form and tan to gray coloration characteristic of the Caribbean gorgonian fauna. Like other Caribbean plexaurids, it produces terpenoid compounds with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties studied in marine natural products chemistry. Its bleaching susceptibility and population dynamics are studied in the context of Caribbean reef degradation. Genomic data have been generated for this species and are available in public databases, enabling comparative studies of cnidarian evolution and ecology.