Encrusting Pore Coral

zooxanthellate

Colonies are composed of thin laminae often arranged in oblique overlapping whorls. Corallites are immersed or exsert and are surrounded by thecal papillae. These are frequently fused into short ridges and may form hoods over the corallites. Reticulum papillae are thick and highly fused. Colour: usually a uniform brown, cream or purple, sometimes with pale margins. Abundance: Very common and may be a dominant species on sheltered upper reef slopes (Veron, 1986). Colonies consist of thin plates often growing in tiers and whorls. The upper surface is papillate. Colour: cream to khaki brown with pale margins. Habitat: occasionally dominant on sheltered, shallow reefs (Richmond, 1997).