Stylophora wellsi Scheer 1964

Stylophora wellsi est une espèce de coraux appartenant à la famille des Pocilloporidae.

Stylophora wellsi là một loài san hô trong họ Pocilloporidae. Loài này được Scheer mô tả khoa học năm 1964.

zooxanthellate

This species is a stoutly branching form, usually of similar shape and size to heavier Stylophora pistillata, but often developing thicker, convoluted keels and ridges. Its principal distinguishing feature is that its branch surfaces are irregular and have verrucae in the manner of Pocillopora, with which it has certainly been confused in the past. However, its calical structures are clearly those of Stylophora, but it does not have well developed calical hoods. This is a Red Sea endemic, and is common in the northern and central parts, less so in the south. This species grows only in very shallow water of exposed fringing and barrier reefs which experience strong swell and wave action. It is very rare indeed below 3 m deep. The greater the wave action of the site, the larger and better developed are its colonies. Stylophora wellsi is commonly seen alongside S. pistillata which in these shallow, exposed habitats adopts an increasingly stoutly branched morphology but remains easily distinguished by its lack of verrucae and its smoother branches (Sheppard, 1998).