Cactus Coral

zooxanthellate

Coralla form submassive structures, almost always seen with stout leafy or branch like appendages, or are masses of thick, angular leaves and anastomosing projections. Leaves are 3 to 10 mm thick, which is much thicker than in Pavona cactus, and calices are also larger, being about 2 to 3 mm diameter. The distribution of this species is similar to that of Pavona cactus, preferring gently sloping substrates and able to tolerate moderate sedimentation. It is common, but does not develop giant colonies in the manner of P. cactus (Sheppard, 1998). Colonies are thick, interconnecting, bifacial upright laminae, or are submassive, with or without lobed horizontal margins and upright laminae. Corallites are irregular, deep-seated, sometimes aligned parallel to margins or to radiating ridges. Colour: brown, creamy yellow or greenish. Abundance: common over a wide range of shallow-water environments (Veron, 1986). Colony of paddle-like upright fronds, about 5 mm thick and 3 cm long, comprised of irregularly-spaced corallites. Colour: orange or brown. Habitat: diverse, especially in areas of high sediment load. (Richmond, 1997)