Lanka Mangrove Museum

The Lanka Mangrove Museum is a dedicated environmental education center focused on preserving and promoting the rich biodiversity of Sri Lanka’s mangrove ecosystems. Located near the vibrant wetlands, the museum offers interactive exhibits, guided tours, and educational resources that showcase the ecological significance of mangroves and their role in coastal resilience.

Fungia spp., commonly known as mushroom corals, belong to the family Fungiidae and are widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. These corals are easily distinguished by their solitary, free-living growth form, which differs from most other scleractinian corals that form colonies. Individuals typically have a flat, circular to oval disc-shaped skeleton, occasionally with slight dome-like elevation. Young specimens may attach to the substrate, but adults are usually completely free-living and capable of moving short distances across the substrate by expanding their tissues or manipulating water pressure.

Fungia sp.

Fungia sp. Mushroom coral / plate coral Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Subclass: Hexacorallia Order: Scleractinia Family: Fungiidae Genus: Fungia Fungia sp., commonly known as mushroom coral or plate coral, is a solitary stony coral (unlike most corals, it lives as a single individual rather than a colony). General Description Fungia spp., commonly known as […]

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Seriatopora sp., commonly known as bird’s nest coral, is a branching stony coral with delicate, thin branches that form compact, bush-like colonies.

Seriatopora sp.

Seriatopora spp., commonly known as bird’s nest corals, are small-polyp stony corals belonging to the family Pocilloporidae. They are widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific and are typically found on shallow reef slopes, reef fronts, and lagoonal environments with moderate to strong water movement. Colonies of Seriatopora are easily recognized by their delicate, highly branched, and often fragile skeletal structure, which forms dense, intricately intertwined “bird’s nest” shapes.

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Goniopora spp., commonly referred to as flowerpot corals, are large-polyp stony corals belonging to the family Poritidae. They are widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting sheltered reef slopes, lagoonal environments, turbid coastal waters, and soft-substrate areas. Goniopora colonies are easily recognized by their distinctive long, tubular polyps, each tipped with 24 tentacles, which give the coral its characteristic flower-like appearance when fully extended.

Goniopora sp. – Copy

Goniopora spp., commonly referred to as flowerpot corals, are large-polyp stony corals belonging to the family Poritidae. They are widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, typically inhabiting sheltered reef slopes, lagoonal environments, turbid coastal waters, and soft-substrate areas. Goniopora colonies are easily recognized by their distinctive long, tubular polyps, each tipped with 24 tentacles, which give the coral its characteristic flower-like appearance when fully extended.

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Tubastraea spp., widely known as sun corals or orange cup corals, are members of the family Dendrophylliidae. Unlike most reef-building corals, species of this genus are azooxanthellate, meaning they lack symbiotic zooxanthellae and do not rely on photosynthesis for nutrition. As a result, Tubastraea corals are often found in low-light or shaded habitats, such as caves, overhangs, deep reef slopes, shipwrecks, and artificial structures, where they capture plankton and organic particles with their large, fleshy polyps.

Tubastraea sp.

Tubastraea spp., widely known as sun corals or orange cup corals, are members of the family Dendrophylliidae. Unlike most reef-building corals, species of this genus are azooxanthellate, meaning they lack symbiotic zooxanthellae and do not rely on photosynthesis for nutrition. As a result, Tubastraea corals are often found in low-light or shaded habitats, such as caves, overhangs, deep reef slopes, shipwrecks, and artificial structures, where they capture plankton and organic particles with their large, fleshy polyps.

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Favites

Favites sp.

Favites spp., commonly referred to as brain corals or honeycomb corals, belong to the family Merulinidae and are widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific coral reef systems. These massive, encrusting, or dome-shaped corals are easily recognized by their distinctive polygonal corallite arrangement, which forms a characteristic honeycomb pattern. Adjacent corallites typically share common walls (cerioid formation), a key diagnostic trait that helps differentiate Favites from similar genera such as Goniastrea, where the walls are often less fused.

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Pocillopora

Pocillopora sp. 009

A key diagnostic feature of Pocillopora is the presence of characteristic wart-like projections on the skeleton known as verrucae, which are tightly spaced and often cover the branch surfaces. Corallites are typically small and superficial, with a uniform appearance and porous skeletal texture. However, morphological plasticity is common within this genus, and colony form can vary dramatically with water flow, light levels, and depth. As a result, distinguishing Pocillopora species solely by external morphology can be challenging, often requiring microscopic skeletal examination or genetic analysis for accurate identification. These corals are ecologically important reef builders and are known for their relatively fast growth rates and sensitivity to environmental disturbances. Their wide distribution and variable morphology make Pocillopora an important group for reef monitoring studies.

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Pocillopora sp

Pocillopora sp. 008

A key diagnostic feature of Pocillopora is the presence of characteristic wart-like projections on the skeleton known as verrucae, which are tightly spaced and often cover the branch surfaces. Corallites are typically small and superficial, with a uniform appearance and porous skeletal texture. However, morphological plasticity is common within this genus, and colony form can vary dramatically with water flow, light levels, and depth. As a result, distinguishing Pocillopora species solely by external morphology can be challenging, often requiring microscopic skeletal examination or genetic analysis for accurate identification. These corals are ecologically important reef builders and are known for their relatively fast growth rates and sensitivity to environmental disturbances. Their wide distribution and variable morphology make Pocillopora an important group for reef monitoring studies.

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Pocillopora spp., commonly known as cauliflower corals or lace corals, are a genus of small-polyp stony corals belonging to the family Pocilloporidae. They are widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region, particularly abundant on shallow reef crests, reef flats, and high-energy environments. Members of this genus are easily recognized by their distinctive branching morphology, which may range from compact, bushy colonies to more open, irregular structures depending on species and environmental conditions.

Pocillopora sp. 007

A key diagnostic feature of Pocillopora is the presence of characteristic wart-like projections on the skeleton known as verrucae, which are tightly spaced and often cover the branch surfaces. Corallites are typically small and superficial, with a uniform appearance and porous skeletal texture. However, morphological plasticity is common within this genus, and colony form can vary dramatically with water flow, light levels, and depth. As a result, distinguishing Pocillopora species solely by external morphology can be challenging, often requiring microscopic skeletal examination or genetic analysis for accurate identification. These corals are ecologically important reef builders and are known for their relatively fast growth rates and sensitivity to environmental disturbances. Their wide distribution and variable morphology make Pocillopora an important group for reef monitoring studies.

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Acropora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Acropora species are some of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef. Acropora sp. is commonly found in shallow reef environments that are bright and have moderate to high water motion. Acropora corals are commonly called "staghorn coral," and some colonies with flat tops are called "table coral." Besides the differences in the overall shape of the colony, the branches are usually cylindrical with corallites surrounding them. A corallite is a tiny cup about 0.5 cm in diameter. A distinctive feature of this species is the axial corallite, which is larger than the other corallites. It grows upward at the tip of the branch, while new corallites bud along its sides. The base of the coral attaches to rock or a plug and encrusts to increase stability. From this base, new branches can also grow outward. Acropora Coral – The Architects of Coral Reefs

Acropora Coral – The Architects of Coral Reefs 3

Acropora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Acropora species are some of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef. Acropora sp. is commonly found in shallow reef environments that are bright and have moderate to high water motion. Acropora corals are commonly called “staghorn coral,” and some colonies with flat tops are called “table coral.” Besides the differences in the overall shape of the colony, the branches are usually cylindrical with corallites surrounding them. A corallite is a tiny cup about 0.5 cm in diameter. A distinctive feature of this species is the axial corallite, which is larger than the other corallites. It grows upward at the tip of the branch, while new corallites bud along its sides. The base of the coral attaches to rock or a plug and encrusts to increase stability. From this base, new branches can also grow outward. Acropora Coral – The Architects of Coral Reefs

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