Common Lettuce Coral

zooxanthellate

A foliaceous coral, with numerous vertical "leaves", which are really meandroid series of corallites with very tall, thin walls. In this species, the walls are all of similar, regular height. Smaller, secondary corallites occur on the sides of the walls as well as along the valley floor. While this genus contains some colourful corals, this species is generally a relatively dull brown or green. A single colony may exceed a metre diameter. Its preferred habitat is in sheltered water such as lagoons and back-reef areas. (Sheppard, 1998 ) Colonies have elongate valleys and walls, the latter of relatively uniform height. Most valleys can be traced from the colony margins to the centre. Colour: uniform grey, brown or green. Abundance: common on lower reef slopes and in turbid water habitats where colonies frequently exceed 1 m in diameter. (Veron, 1986 ) Specimens are always distinctive and striking as they have prominent walls or spire-like lobes with septo-costae between the polyps. The thin, high, irregular walls are of uniform height and meander from the colony centre. Colour: usually greyish-green. Habitat: turbid waters and base of reefs. (Richmond, 1997)