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| hard corals text index | photo index |
| Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Scleractinia > Family Faviidae |
| Zebra
coral Oulastrea crispata* Family Faviidae updated May 13
Where seen? This hard coral with a black-and-white skeleton is among the most commonly encountered of our hard corals. Even rather 'beat up' shores may have small colonies encrusting rocks and stones. This hardy coral grows in murky waters and even where it is often exposed to air at low tide. Elsewhere, the colonies are encrusting and grow only to a few centimetres. Oulastrea crispata is the only species in the genus. Features: Colonies about 10-15cm, sometimes much smaller. The colony tends to be encrusting, sometimes a small boulder-shape. Corallites small (about 0.5cm) circular rings with thick white radiating wall partitions (septa) on a black background. The background remains black even after the colony is dead, thus its common name. The polyps have many long thin tentacles and are brownish, sometimes with a greenish tinge and a bright green mouth. Some Montastrea species also of the Family Faviidae may appear similar. Status and threats: This coral is not listed as globally threatened by the IUCN. But like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Trampling by careless visitors, and over-collection also have an impact on local populations. |
 Kusu Island, Jun 05  |
These small corals are common on stones and rocks. Don't
step on them!
 Lazarus, Apr 12 
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 Pulau Hantu, Jan 12  |
 Pulau Hantu, Jan 12  |
 Pasir Ris, Aug 11  |
 Changi, May 06  |
 Pulau Ubin, Jun 08  |
 Beting Bronok, Aug 05 |
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Zebra hard corals on Singapore Shores
| Photos for free download from wildsingapore flickr |
*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
References
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Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia. 3 volumes.
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