Lanka Mangrove Museum

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pocillopora damicornis is a widely distributed reef-building coral found across the Indo-Pacific. It forms bushy, branching colonies that resemble cauliflower, with shapes varying depending on environmental conditions. Its color ranges from cream and pink to brown and green due to symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae). Pocillopora damicornis (Cauliflower Coral)

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 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