Reef coral genera of the Western Indian Ocean

David Obura

With thanks to:

Rose Machuku

Terney Kumara

Laurence DeFrise

This guide to the genera of the Western Indian Ocean gives ID photos for typical species and growth forms found in the region.

Corals are arranged by family then genus, alphabetically.

This guide is continuously updated – apologies for any incomplete genera in the current version!

Produced by:

CORDIO East Africa, P.O.BOX 10135-80101, Mombasa, Kenya) www.cordioea.net; dobura@cordioea.net

September 2015

FamiliesClick on the family name to jump directly to it

Family Genus Family Genus Family Genus Family GenusAcroporidae Acropora Faviidae Barabattoia Agariciidae Coeloseris Coscinaraeidae Anomastrea

Alveopora Caulastrea Gardineroseris CoscinaraeaAnacropora Cyphastrea Leptoseris CraterasteraAstreopora Diploastrea Pachyseris HorastreaIsopora Echinopora PavonaMontipora Favia Siderastreidae Psammocora

Favites Merulinidae Hydnophora PseudosiderastreaPocilloporidae Madracis Goniastrea Merulina Siderastrea

Pocillopora LeptastreaSeriatopora Leptoria Poritidae Goniopora Euphyllidae CtenellaStylophora Montastrea Porites Euphyllia

Moseleya Poritipora GyrosmiliaAstrocoeniidae Stylocoeniella Oulophyllia Stylaraea Physogyra

Parasimplastrea PlerogyraFungiidae Cantharellus Platygyra Oculinidae Galaxea

Ctenactis Plesiastrea Trachyphylliidae TrachyphylliaCycloseris Pectiniidae EchinophylliaDiaseris Mussidae Acanthastrea Mycedium Caryophylliidae HeterocyathusFungia Blastomussa OxyporaHalomitra Cynarina Pectinia Dendrophylliidae HeteropsammiaHeliofungia Lobophyllia TubastreaHerpolitha Micromussa TurbinariaPodabacia ScolymiaPolyphillia Symphyllia Hydrozoa HelioporaSandalolitha Millepora

Fam: Acroporidae

Acropora

Colony type Usually branching, bushy or plate like, encrusting, sub massiveCorallite type rounded raised, protruding above the coenostium 1-3 mm in diameter. Two types: axial corallites at the tips of

branches/growing edges & radial corallites around the branches/main body.Description Distinctive branching growth forms, mostly brown but many other colours but with white/pale growing tips.Septa-costae Septa in two cyclesOther remarks Tentacles are extended usually at night, corallite wall and the coenostium are porous, axial corallites are larger

1) humilis; 2)retusa; 3) secale, 4) gemmifera; 5) clathrata; 6) muricata; 7) cytherea

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Family Acroporidae; flower, staghorn coral

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Astreopora

Colony type Massive, plating, encrustingCorallite type Mostly conical but can be immersedDescription Coenostium has granular appearance, from teeth on septo-costae. Depending on their size it appears smooth,

spinous or flakySepta-costae Short numerous neatly spaced septaOther remarks Columella is conspicuous and compactSimilar species Turbinaria - coenostium plain, no elaborations

1) myriophthalma; 2) listeri; 3) randalli, 4) expansa; 5) ocellata; 6) suggesta

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Family Acroporidae; star flower coral

Montipora

Colony type Submassive, laminar, encrusting or branchingCorallite type Corallites are small, less than 1mm, pore like, sometimes not visible underwaterGeneral Columella absent, corallite walls & coenostium are porous & may be highly elaborate with projections (papillae,

tuberculae, ridges), or depressions in which the corallites sit. One species may have multiple growth forms.Septa-costae Septa in 2 cycles with inward projecting teethOther remarks Calice is pore-like immersed; tentacles are usually extended at nightSimilar species Porites - corallite filled with internal structures, coenostium without elaborated structures

1) aequituberculata; 2) floweri?; 3) tuberculosa, 4) foveolata; 5) nodosa; 6) spongodes

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Family Acroporidae; pore, velvet coral

Fam: Pocilloporidae

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Pocillopora

Colony type Branching, becoming submassive in high energy environmentsCorallite type small, flush, immersed, pore like Description Branches fine to robust and flattened, covered with distinctive verrucae, immersed corallites, coenostium covered

with granulesSepta-costae Two unequal cycles of septaColour Cream, brown, pink & purpleOther remarks Tentacles are extended during the day and night

1) damicornis; 2) elegans; 3) meandrina, 4) verrucosa; 5) eydouxi; 6) indiania; 7) ligulata; 8) verrucosa in high energy environment; 9) Pocillopora-dominated habitat

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Family Pocilloporidae; cauliflower coral

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Seriatopora

Colony type Compact bushesCorallite type Arranged in neat rows along the branchesDescription Bushy, thin and tapering branches with pointed or rounded tips, corallites-neat rows along the branches, a rim of

tall spines around the caliceSepta-costae 1-2 cycles of septa (six) fused to the columellaColour Light yellow, tan or greenOther remarks Coenostium-covered with fine spines. Easily confused with fine Stylophora

1) hystrix; 2) guttatus; 3) dendritica, 4) caliendrum; 5) galls, made by symbiotic crab

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Family Pocilloporidae; bush/bird’s nest coral

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Stylophora

Colony type Branching or encurstingCorallite type Vary in structure according to the position, with a prominent hoodDescription Branches thin except for pistillata, with rounded or blunt tips, corallites-hooded on distal part of branchesSepta-costae 1st cycle meet the collumelaColour pale colours - yellow, green or tanOther remarks Tentacles usually extended at night

1) pistillata; 2) corallite hoods; 3) pistillata, alternate forms, 4) subseriata; 5) madagaskariensis; 6) mamilata; 7) wellsi; 8) kuehlmani

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Family Pocilloporidae; hood/finger coral

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Fam: Faviidae

Cyphastrea

Colony type Massive or encrustingCorallite type PlocoidDescription Rounded calices, less than 3mm diameter in diameter, small cone shaped corallites, coenostium granulated,

small space between corallitesSepta-costae Costae, restricted to corallite wallColour Tan, brown with white highlightsOther remarks Tentacles are extended at night

1) serailia, 2) chalcidium, 3) microphthalma

Family Faviidae

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Diploastrea

Colony type Dome shaped, can be very largeCorallite type Plocoid/conical ,10-20mm diameterDescription Dense colony & corallites, large cones with small opening, strongly lined costae, tentacles are extended at nightSepta-costae Septa-equal, costae-very prominent, walls poresColour BrownSimilar species Monospecific

Monospecific - D. heliopora

Family Faviidae; double star coral

Echinopora

Colony type Encrusting, sub massive or platingCorallite type Plocoid, up to 10mm and elevated, though differs among speciesDescription Coenosteum with short spines, corallites uniform shape, height and scatteringSepta-costae Irregular, costae restricted to the corallite wall, with spinesColour Brown, with white growing edgesOther remarks Usually prominent columella, tentacles extend at night, Similar species Echinophyllia - corallites larger with spines in rows on coenosteum.

1) hirsutissima; 2) lamellosa; 3) gemmifera, 4) robusta; 5) forskaliana; 6) tiranensis

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Family Faviidae

Favia

Colony type Massive, flat or dome shapedCorallite type Plocoid corallites, mostly monocentric, inratentacular buddingDescription Corallites approximately equal in size, and vary from highly plocoid to almost-cerioid and from circular to irregular

Septa-costae Extend to the coenosteumColour Variable, multicoloured openings with different stomodiumOther remarks Tentacles are extended at night and have pigmented tips, Similar species Montastrea – extratentacular budding, corallites are squeezed into irregular shapes

1) favus/danai; 2 speciosa, 3) lizardensis; 4) ) helianthoides; 5) vietnamensis; 6) mathai; 7) stelligera

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Family Faviidae; knob/moonstone coral

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Favites

Colony type Massive, submassive, flat, dome shaped and some with pillars/columnsCorallite type Cerioid, monocentric; calices oblong or polygonalDescription Paliform lobes absent, septa straight or rounded into center forming funnel shape; corallites in different sizesColour VariableOther remarks Tentacles are extended at night, paliform lobes absent or seldom developedSimilar species Goniastrea - with exsert paliform lobes and regular pattern of calices and septa with fine teeth, neat appearance

Platygyra - more ragged septa, meandroid

1) pentagona; 2) flexuosa; 3) abdita, 4) complanata; 5) rus; 6) acuticolis; 7) stylifera; 8) halicora; 9) vasta; 10) paraflexuosa

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Family Faviidae

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Goniastrea

Colony type Massive, sub-massive, plates, encrustingCorallite type Cerioid, monocentric to short meandroid (one species is fully meandroid), mouths very distinctDescription Paliform lobes prominent, angular and regular tightly packed corallites, calices are 4-8 mm diameterSepta-costae Septa smooth and very regularly/neatly arranged, drop abruptly into the caliceColour VariableOther remarks Tentacles extended at night, columella is spongy, well developed and form clear centres in meandroid colonies

Similar species Platygyra - weakly developed paliform lobes, columella centres are seldom distinguishable, septa less regular

Favites - almost never meandroid, septa less regular

1) retiformis; 2) peresi; 3) pectinata; 4) ) favulus; 5) edwardsi; 6) deformis

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Family Faviidae; lesser star coral

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Leptastrea

Colony type Massive, flat or dome shapedCorallite type Ceroid to subplocoid or clustered plocoidDescription Corallites raised unevenly from the coenostium, shallow grove between corallites and septa do not extend across

the grove, extratentacular budding, tentacles are extended at nightSepta-costae Costae - poorly developed or absent septa-do not cross the grove and have inward projecting teethColour Variable, blue or tan, often green stomodeumsSimilar species Cyphastrea - plocoid, spread corallites, granulated coenostium

1) purpurea; 2) pruinosa; 3) bottae; 4) transversa

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Family Faviidae; crust coral

Platygyra

Colony type Massive, dome shaped or flatCorallite type Meandroid or cerioid, calices 3-6mm in diameterDescription Spongy, poorly defined & meandroid columella, paliform lobes are not developed, valleys can be straight, angular

or contorted,, Colour Brown or variable, often green mouthsOther remarks Tentacles are extended at night, Similar species Goniastrea - well-developed paliform lobes and columella centers

Favites - always monocentric, corallites angularLeptoria - much finer, neater, more meandroid, wall/valleys more uniform/y spaced septa

1) daedelea; 2) ryukyusensis; 3) lamellina; 4) sinensis; 5) acuta; 6) pini; 7) verweyi

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Family Faviidae; brain coral

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Plesiastrea

Colony type Massive rounded or flattenedCorallite type Plocoid (small rounded), crowded but evenly roundedDescription Neat, small regular packed rounded corallites, well developed even septa and paliform lobes Septa-costae Costae prominent, non continuousColour Tan or green in colourOther remarks Calices less than 3mm, tentacles extended day and night in different speciesSimilar species most like Montastrea which are larger.

Cyphastrea - plocoid, spreaded corallites, granulated coenostium,

1) devantieri; 2) versipora

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2Family Faviidae; small knob coral

Fam: Agariciidae

Gardineroseris

Colony type Massive,sometimes encrusting with laminar marginsCorallite type Corallites immersed with indistinct walls in deep excavations with very acute ridgesDescription Corallites or group of corallites immersed with indistinct walls in deep excavations with very acute ridgesSepta-costae Very fine and even Other remarks Extratentacular budding in calice corners, columella present, tentacles are extended at night.

G. planulata; monospecific genus

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Family Agariciidae; elephant skin coral

Leptoseris

Colony type Laminar or encrusting sheets and unifacial, delicate, contorted and subdivided fronds, Corallite type Small (6mm) shallow depressions, poorly defined wallsDescription Often with whitish edges, frequently have central corallite, septo-costae thin, curved and longer than 1cmSepta-costae Thin, in clear alternating series, granulated/rougher than PavonaColumella Central, usually separated by ridges, interconnected by septo-costaeOther remarks Circum-oral budding followed by marginal budding, tentacles estended at night. Most common on deeper slopes

1) hawaiiensis; 2) exaplanata; 3) mycetoseroides, 4) incrustans; 5) foliosa; 6) solida; 7) scabra; 8) yabei

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Family Agariciidae; porcelain, lettuce coral

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Pavona

Colony type Massive, columnar, fronds, laminar or encrusting. May be contorted.Corallite type Walls poorly developed or absent, centers in small shallow depression, small (<3mm)Septa-costae Corallites connectd by uninterrupted septo-costae giving distinct star-patternin absence of walls.Other remarks Weak central columella, tentacles extended only at night except for P. explanulata Similar species Leptoseris has finer septo-costae in two distinct cycles, more laminar, colonies are unifacial

1) cactus; 2) decussata; 3) frondifera, 4) danai; 5) clavus; 6) duerdeni; 7) explanulata; 8) varians; 9) venosa; 10) minuta; 11) maldivensis

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Family Agariciidae; leaf, cactus coral

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Pachyseris

Colony type Laminar & unifacial to branched & bifacial, and encrustingCorallite type Centres are not discernible, <1mm, aligned in valleys,Description Surface is a concentric ridges parallel to the margins, from highly ordered/parallel to contorted. Septa-costae Fine, even and tightly compactedOther remarks Very distinctive, most abundant in deeper, turbid sheltered locations. Similar species Pavona - septo-costae are thicker, shorter and straighter

1/2) speciosa; 3/4) rugosa;

5) turbid habitat

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Family Agariciidae; elephant skin coral

Fam: Merulinidae

Hydnophora

Colony type Massive, encrusting or branchingCorallite type Wall absentDescription Monticules or hydnophores present, between the corallites, with short tentacles around the base of each

monticuleOther remarks Tentacles extended during the day and night

1) exesa; 2) microconos; 3) pilosa, 4) rigida

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Family Merulinidae; Exclamation coral

Merulina

Colony type Laminar, with short vertical projectionsCorallite type Corallites are in a row, down valleysDescription Valleys are short and straight spreading in a fan and then dividing, valleys are pink/pale; walls are pale yellow or

vice-versa, bifacial frondsOther remarks Columella is trabecular, fused into a continuous mass.Similar species Scapophyllia - parallel valleys, not extending

M. ampliata

Family Merulinidae; cabbage, crust coral

Fungiidae

Fungia

1) concinna; 2) granulosa; 3) fungites, 4) repanda; 5) fungites (detail); 6) danai (detail); 7) seychellensis; 8) paumotensis; 9) habitat

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Family Fungiidae; mushroom coral

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Colony type Free living, discoid or elongateCorallite type Solitary, (free living except for juveniles)Description Large-sized adultsSepta-costae Septa-teeth, not lobed, costae-rows of spinesColour Tan, brown, with purple or green highlightsOther remarks Tentacles are extended during the day, short, tapering & spaced tentaclesSimilar species Cycloseris - aboral side smooth, smaller

Heliofungia - septa with lobed teeth, longer tentacles

3Cycloseris

Colony type Colonial, elongate, free livingDescription Elongate, often bent, prominent axial furrow. Mouths occur inside the furrow. In limax, secondary mouthsparallel to the axis,Septa-costae Septa-lack prominent teeth, radiate from axial furrow, largeColour TanOther remarks Tentacles are extended during the night Similar species Ctenactis - single individual sometimes with several mouths, prominent teeth

1) xx; 2) xx; 3) explanulata; 4) wellsi

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Family Fungiidae; mushroom corals

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Herpolitha

Colony type Colonial, elongate, free livingDescription Elongate, often bent, prominent axial furrow. Mouths occur inside the furrow. In limax, secondary mouthsparallel to the axis,Septa-costae Septa-lack prominent teeth, radiate from axial furrow, largeColour TanOther remarks Tentacles are extended during the night Similar species Ctenactis - single individual sometimes with several mouths, prominent teeth

1) limax; 2) weberi

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Family Fungiidae; mushroom corals

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Fam: Coscinaraeidae

Anomastrea

Colony type submassive in small golf-balls, to encrustingCorallite type Submeandroid to cerioidDescription Walls are thin and septa have irregularly fused margins. Septa are widely spaced and uniform, giving the

colony surface a neat appearance. Tentacles are usually at least partly extended during the daySepta-costae Widely spaced and uniform,Colour cream to brown, may be bluish-grey.Habitat shallow reef flatsSimilar species Coeloseris mayeri

Monospecific - Anomastrea irregularis

Family Coscinaraeidae; false pillow coral

Distribution: Western Indian Ocean endemic. Known only from East African

mainland and Madagascar

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Coscinaraea

Colony type Massive, columnar, encrusting or laminar,Corallite type Cerioid to meandroid, corallites in short valleys or irregularly scattered,Septa-costae Septo-costae fused in a distinctive manner, finely serrated to heavily

granulated marginsOther remarks Group of pinnules, intratentacular, septa perforated and granulated, mostly

fusing towards the papillose columella

1) monile; 2) exesa; 3) crassa, 4) sp. nov.; 5) columna

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Family Coscinaraeidae; wrinkle coral

Craterastrea

Colony type Corallite typeSepta-costae ColourSimilar species

Monospecific – Craterastrea levis

Family Coscinaraeidae

Distribution: Western Indian Ocean endemic. Known only from East African mainland and Madagascar

Horastrea

Colony type Massive/hemisphericalCorallite type Large and plocoid to meandroid with several centresSepta-costae Septa in three orders, costae well developedColour Pale brown with blue-grey oral discsHabitat high-sediment environments, often in sand/rubble at base of reefsSimilar species General appearance is Favia like but too messy, skeletal structures are closest to Siderastrea

Monospecific - Horastrea indica

Family Coscinaraeidae

Distribution: Western Indian Ocean endemic. Known only from East African mainland and Madagascar

Fam: Siderastreidae

Psammocora

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Family Siderastreidae; Exclamation coral

Colony type Mostly encrusting; also submassive, columnar, laminarCorallite type Corallites small, shallow, sometimes forming short valleysSepta-costae Complex granulated septo-costae - primary septo-costae embedded in secondary ones, forming intricate

patterns.Colour Light brownOther remarks Columella consists of a group of pinnules, intra-tentacular marginal budding, tentacles are extended during the

day and nightSimilar genera Coscinaraea –large corallites with large calices

1) haimeana; 2) profundacella; 3) obtusangula, 4); 5) stellulata; 6) nierstrazi (detail); 7) niestrazi

Pseudosiderastrea

Colony type Encrusting to dome shaped, up to 160mmCorallite type Cerioid, polygonal, 3-6mm, walls variable from thick to fineSepta-costae Septa evenly spaced & fused towards the center, in fanlike groups,

fine saw like teethColumella 1-4 pinnulesCalice 3-6mm across

Monospecific - Pseudosiderastrea tayami

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Family Siderastreidae; false pillow coral

Siderastrea

Colony type Mostly encrusting; also submassive, columnar, laminarCorallite type Corallites small, shallow, sometimes forming short valleysSepta-costae Complex granulated septo-costae - primary septo-costae embedded in secondary ones, forming intricate

patterns.Colour Light brownOther remarks Columella consists of a group of pinnules, intra-tentacular marginal budding, tentacles are extended during the

day and nightSimilar genera Coscinaraea –large corallites with large calices

1) haimeana; 2) profundacella; 3) obtusangula, 4) explanulata; 5) stellulata; 6) nierstrazi (detail); 7) niestrazi

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Family ; common name

Fam: Mussidae

Acanthastrea

Colony type Massive encrusting or usually flatCorallite type Cerioid to subplocoid, monocentricDescription Massive, encrusting, usually flat, cerioid or subplocoid, tall teeth, monocentric, thicky fleshy blistery tissue over the skeletonSepta-costae Septa thickened at the corallite wall, tall teethOther remarks Tentacles extended at night

1) echinata; 2) hemprichii; 3) brevis, 4) ishigakiensis; 5) faviaformis; 6) regularis; 7) rotundata; 8) subechinata

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Family Mussidae; starry cup coral

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Lobophyllia

Colony type Flat topped or dome shapedCorallite type Phaceloid to flabello meandroidDescription Phaceloid to flabello meandroid, fleshy meandering ridges make lobes, calices 3-5 cm wide, septa large with long

teeth & thickened near the wall, corallites bumpy appearance large and deepSepta-costae Septa thickened near the wall, large with long septaOther Tentacles may beextended during the night and usually have white tipsSimilar species Symphyllia - coarse skeletal structure, meandroid appearance

1) corymbosa; 2) hataii; 3) hemprichii; 4) robusta

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Family Mussidae; hood/finger coral

Fam: Oculinidae

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Galaxea

Colony type Massive, encrusting, cushion shaped or irregularCorallite type Plocoid, highly exsert and cylindrical,Description Plocoid, walls have pointed septa, corallites are highly exsert and cylindrical, linked together by smooth solid

blistery coenostiumSepta-costae Septa exsert, tall sharp points to 1cm above wallColour Green or brownOther remarks Tentacles are extended during the day,

1) astreata; 2) fascicularis

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Family Oculinidae; octopus/galaxy coral

Fam: Pectiniidae

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Oxypora

Colony type Thin lamellae, always has free foliose marginsCorallite type Round or oval, irregular, shallow not strongly inclined on the colony surfaceDescription Thin lamellae, always have free foliaceous margins, calices oval, round, immersed, not strongly inclined, septo-

costae run from the calice centres to the perimeter and are almost paralled, coenostium is pitted, surface warty appearance, tentacles are extended at night, calices are 3-8mm in diameter, columella is poorly developed

Septa-costae Septo-costae run from the calice centers to the perimeter and are almost parallelSimilar species Echinophyllia - has thickened septal structures, fleshier tissue; Echinopora - corallites are compacted/plocoid,

septa exert; Mycedium - coenostium without pits, nose shaped corallites

1) lacera; 2) glabra

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Family Pectiniidae; porous lettuce coral

Echinophyllia

Colony type Encrusting or laminar, slightly submassiveCorallite type Round or oval, immersed or protuberant, not strongly inclined on the colony surfaceDescription Encrusting or laminar, calices irregular, not strongly inclined on the colony surface, densely packed with

spines, coenostium is pitted, some corallites in lines, well developed columellaSepta-costae Numerous, with teethOther remarks Coenostium is pitted at the commencement of septo-costaeSimilar species Oxypora and Mycedium

1) aspera, 2) patula, 3) orpheensis, 4) echinoporoides, 5) echinata

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Family Pectiniidae;

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Fam: Euphyllidae

Ctenella

Colony type Flabello-meandroid, phaceloid or flabellateCorallite type With large vesiclesDescription Flabello meandroid, phaceloid or flabellate, septa large, solid, smooth edged, very exsert, widely spacedSepta-costae Septa large, solid, smooth edged, very exsert, widely spaced, costae-poorly developedCalice Solid wallsOther remarks Septal series united laterally by cellular light coenostium; Physogyra is meandroid, small vesicles which

readily retract.

1) chagius

1

Family Euphyllidae;

Gyrosmilia

Colony type Flabello-meandroid, phaceloid or flabellateCorallite type With large vesiclesDescription Flabello meandroid, phaceloid or flabellate, septa large, solid, smooth edged, very exsert, widely spacedSepta-costae Septa large, solid, smooth edged, very exsert, widely spaced, costae-poorly developedCalice Solid wallsOther remarks Septal series united laterally by cellular light coenostium; Physogyra is meandroid, small vesicles which

readily retract.

1) interrupta

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Family Euphyllidae;

Plerogyra

Colony type Flabello-meandroid, phaceloid or flabellateCorallite type With large vesiclesDescription Flabello meandroid, phaceloid or flabellate, septa large, solid, smooth edged, very exsert, widely spacedSepta-costae Septa large, solid, smooth edged, very exsert, widely spaced, costae-poorly developedCalice Solid wallsOther remarks Septal series united laterally by cellular light coenostium; Physogyra is meandroid, small vesicles which

readily retract.

1) sinuosa

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Family Euphyllidae; bubble coral

Fam: Poritidae

Porites

Colony type Massive, spherical or hemisphere when small, helmet or dome shaped when large Corallite type Cerioid Description Flat, laminar, encrusting, massive or branching, small corallites filled with septa, 4-12 small pillars form paliform

lobes, appear as small eyes in live coral, smooth appearanceSepta-costae Colour Other remarks Calices are smaller than 2 mm, tentacles are extended at night Similar species Montipora -

different in growth forms, in completed smaller corallites,elaborated papillae & tubercles on surface, lack of radiating septa.

Various species. Massive/encrusting and branching growth forms

Family Poritidae; hump coral

Fam: Dendrophylliidae

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Turbinaria

Colony type laminae, frequently contorted, submassive/columnar Corallite type Plocoid with extensive coenosteumDescription Submassive, columnar or usually laminar, laminae frequently contorted, corallites round, immersed to tubular;

corallites have pores walls with the same structure as the surrounding coenostium, septa short and neat, regularSepta-costae Septa short and neat, regularOther remarks Broad compact and spongy columella, tentacles are extended during the night (except for T. peltata)

1) reniformis; 2) stellulata; 3) frondens; 4) mesenterina; 5) peltata; 6) irregularis

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Family Dendrophyllidae; disk/cup coral