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| hard corals text index | photo index |
| Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Scleractinia > Family Agariciidae |
| Castle
coral Pachyseris rugosa* Family Agariciidae updated Oct 11 Where seen? This crumpled-looking coral forming contorted towers, with thick short ridges on its surface, is rarely seen, usually on our undisturbed Southern shores among living corals. 'Pachys' means 'thick' while 'seris' means 'lettuce-like'. 'Rugosa' means 'wrinkled'. Features: Colony (10-30cm across) forming plates that may be encrusting or upright, often irregular and contorted. The surface has short ridges that form maze-like patterns, perpendicular to the edge of the colony. There is a texture of fine lines perpendicular to these ridges. Colours seen include brown, green and blue. Sometimes confused with other leafy hard corals like Lettuce coral (Pavona sp.). Status and threats: This coral is listed as globally Vulnerable by the IUCN. |
 Terumbu Bemban, Jul 11 |
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 Fine lines perpendicular to thick ridges. |
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Castle corals on Singapore shores
 St. John's Island, Aug 08  Maze-like pattern. |
 Terumbu Bemban, Jul 11 
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 Terumbu Bemban, Jul 11 
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 Kusu Island, Jun 04  Maze-like pattern. |
 Pulau Hantu, Jan 10  |
 Terumbu Raya, Mar 11 |
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*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
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Links
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Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia. 3 volumes.
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