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Related FAQs: TWA Invertebrates,
Fishes of the Tropical West Atlantic,
Tropical West Atlantic 2, Related
Articles: Algae, Vascular Plants,
Introduction to Fishwatcher's Guide Series Pieces/Sections,
Lachnolaimus maxiumus/Hogfish,
Hogfishes of the Genus Bodianus,
Invertebrates, Algae and Vascular Plants of The Tropical West
Atlantic: Bahamas to Brazil, Part 6 To:
Part 1, Part 2,
Part 3, Part 4,
Part 5, Part 7,
Part 8, Part 9, |
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| Bob Fenner |
Stony Corals |
Family
Acroporidae, Classification: Staghorn corals come in many
shapes and all colors... and these traits can be highly variable per
species. Most are typically branched, table-top shaped, or encrusting
per type, but colors often ran the gamut of browns, whites to pinks,
blues, yellows, greens, even purple, depending on growing conditions. As
with other true or stony corals (Order Scleractinia) real determination
to the species level rests on close examination of corallites
(individual polyp skeletons), biochemical and genetic study. |
Acropora cervicornis, one of three Staghorn Corals of the
tropical Western Atlantic. To eight feet in height, branches to more
than an inch diameter. Cozumel image. |
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Acropora palmata, Elkhorn Coral. Found in the tropical West
Atlantic. Established stands are 3-12 feet in diameter, with
branches of 2-10 inch width. Occasionally "occurs" on live rock
cultured for the trade. Pictured, a large stand in Belize and a
budding colony in an aquarium. |   |
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Acropora prolifera, the Fused Staghorn. Photos of a colony in
Cancun, Mexico, and a "found" cultured specimen in captivity. |   |
Family Poritidae: |
Porites asteroides Mustard Hill Coral. Form encrusting colonies
in shallows to domes in calmer, deeper water. Three Bahamian
specimens below. First two from the shallows are close ups. Cozumel
close-up by Di.F at right. | 
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Porites porites (Pallas 1776), Finger Coral. Smooth appearing
branches with embedded polyps. Generally tannish to brown in color but
may be blue, purple. Open polyp (nighttime) feeding detail at right in
the Bahamas. A close up below and a very small colony in an Eelgrass bed
in Belize and an larger colony in the Bahamas. | 
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Family Meandrinidae: Easily mistaken for faviids, the widely
separated species of Meandrinid corals can be discerned by their solid
skeletal structure. With polyps closed their corallites septa are
clearly seen as prominent, exsert (sticking out), of equal size and
spacing. Three genera (Eusmilia, Gyrosmilia
and Montigyra) were moved by Veron (2000) to here from the
Caryophylliidae. Four genera in the tropical West Atlantic, three in the
eastern Indian Ocean and Red Sea. |
Dendrogyra cylindrus, Pillar Coral. Upright, generally arising
from sandy areas. Polyps typically open, feeding during the day.
Cancun, Mexico image. | 
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Dichocoenia stokesii Mile Edwards & Haime 1848, Elliptical Star
Coral. Flattened plates or boulder-shaped. Corallites spaced evenly.
Bahamas photos of a plate-like colony, close-up of a typical shallow
water and deeper, more-shaded colony. Bahamas pix. | 
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Eusmilia fastigiata (Pallas 1766) . Typically dome-shaped,
phaceloid colonies with well-spaced tubular corallites. Found sparsely
throughout the tropical West Atlantic. Extends tentacles at night.
Images taken in Bahamas of small and large brown colonies at right, and
Tobago and at night, feeding in Bonaire below. | 
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Meandrina meandrites (Linnaeus 1758), Maze, Butter Print, Tan Brain
Coral. Occurs as flattened and hemispherical colonies. Thin ridge at top
of septa where plates come together. Right, at night in Bonaire. Bahamas
photos below. | 
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To: Part 1, Part 2,
Part 3, Part 4, Part
5, Part 7, Part 8,
Part 9, Part 10,
Part 11, Part 12,
Part 13, Part 14,
Part 15,
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