[2] Ricordea yuma are found on the sea floor in relatively shallow, tropical or subtropical ocean environments.

Distinctive features include a large mouth disk that takes up most of the organism, and brightly colored tentacles.

[2] Ricordea yuma have a large oral disk, covered in tentacles that spread out from the center in a spiral formation.

[3] Corallimorpharians, including Ricordea yuma, can prevent reef-building corals from settling by competitively excluding them.

[5]  Stressors like reef degradation and disturbance and raised nutrient load influence Corallimorpharian growth; Raised nutrient load may favor the competitive success of Corallimorpharians including Ricordea yuma, when competing with reef-building corals.