These animals are believed date back to the Miocene with three extant species present in the western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.

Members of this genus are commonly found in reef aquariums because of their slow growth,[2] however separation from other corals is necessary due to intense competition.

To a lesser degree, these corals can also feed heterotrophically using their tentacles to catch plankton drifting through the water at night.

[2][3] All Scolymia species are located in the Atlantic Ocean along the east coast of the Americas between Florida, through the Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico, and as far south as Brazil.

[5] Scoly corals are typically found at the base of a reef between 10-80 m deep where there are turbid waters with low-light conditions.

They have adapted sediment-shifting abilities by growing upward on nearly-vertical surfaces in addition to a mucus exterior that prevents sedimentation from above.