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Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Scleractinia > Family Lobophylliidae
Grooved brain coral
Symphyllia sp.*
Family Lobophylliidae
updated Nov 2019
Where seen? This fleshy dome-shaped hard coral that resembles a brain is often seen on many of our Southern shores.

Features: Colonies seen about 15-20cm, sometimes larger, hemispherical and rather flat. Walls are thick with prominent 'teeth', forming brain-like patterns with wide valleys (2-3cm wide). There is usually a slight dent or groove along the top of the wall. When submerged, the skeleton is covered with thick, fleshy tissue. The tentacles are usually only seen at night, and are numerous, short, slender with bulbous tips. Colours seen include brown, blue and green, often with contrasting coloured walls and valleys. Many seen had striking white portions.

With tentacles extended.
Pulau Hantu, Apr 06

With tentacles retracted.

With tentacles retracted, groove at
the top of the walls.


Tanah Merah, Apr 12
.
Tanah Merah, Jun 12

Cyrene Reef, May 08


Sisters Island, Jul 04

Pulau Hantu, Apr 06

Raffles Lighthouse, Jul 06


Pulau Semakau, Oct 11

Pulau Hantu, Jul 07

Sisters Island, Aug 08

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Grooved brain corals on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Terumbu Pempang Darat, Jun 10
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

Tanah Merah, May 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog

Terumbu Semakau, May 10
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.


Tanah Merah, Jun 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

Tanah Merah, May 13
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

East Coast Park Big Splash, May 15
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.


Pulau Pawai, Dec 09

Terumbu Berkas, Jan 10

Terumbu Berkas, Jan 10


Pulau Senang, Jun 10

Bleaching.

Pulau Senang, Jun 10
 


Bleaching.
Pulau Berkas, May 10

Bleaching.
Pulau Salu, Jun 10
 

Symphyllia species recorded for Singapore
from Danwei Huang, Karenne P. P. Tun, L. M Chou and Peter A. Todd. 30 Dec 2009. An inventory of zooxanthellate sclerectinian corals in Singapore including 33 new records
**the species found on many shores in Danwei's paper.

in red are those listed as threatened on the IUCN global list.


  Family Lobophylliidae
Genus Symphyllia
  Symphyllia agaricia
Symphyllia radians**
Symphyllia recta**
Symphyllia valenciennesii

Links

References
  • Danwei Huang, Karenne P. P. Tun, L. M Chou and Peter A. Todd. 30 Dec 2009. An inventory of zooxanthellate sclerectinian corals in Singapore including 33 new records (pdf). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement No. 22: 69-80.
  • Veron, Jen. 2000. Corals of the World Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia. 3 volumes.
  • Chou, L. M., 1998. A Guide to the Coral Reef Life of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 128 pages.
  • Erhardt, Harry and Daniel Knop. 2005. Corals: Indo-Pacific Field Guide IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 305 pp.
  • Borneman, Eric H. 2001. Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry and Natural History T.F. H Publications. 464 pp
 
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