 |
|
| hard corals text index | photo index |
| Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Scleractinia > Family Faviidae |
| Moon
coral Diploastrea heliopora Family Faviidae updated Feb 09 Where seen? This beautiful neat coral is rarely seen, so far only on some of our Southern shores. Diploastrea heliopora is the only member of this genus. Features: Colonies about 15cm, elsewhere recorded to grow up to 7m wide and 2m tall. The corallites (about 1cm diameter) are similarly-sized neat domes with a small central opening. The walls of the corallite radiate out in neat regular rays and continue over the spaces in between the corallites. The corallites are regularly spaced out and give an overall regular tidy pattern. The large polyp tentacles are said to emerge at night. The colonies are said to be usually dome-shaped but may become almost spherical boulders. Those seen appear to be encrusting. Colours seen include pinkish and brown. |
 Pulau Jong, Jul 07 |
 |
 |
 |
Moon corals on Singapore shores
 Sisters Islands, Apr 04 |
 |
 |
 Pulau Semakau, Aug 08  |
 Terumbu Raya, Feb 09  |
 Terumbu Raya, Feb 09  |
 Terumbu Raya, Feb 09 |
 |
 |
 Terumbu Salu, Jan 10 |
 |
|
References
|
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia. 3 volumes.
|
|