Hump Coral

zooxanthellate

Colonies develop into massive growths several metres across. There seems to be much less tendency to grow into a columnar form (as P. lutea does). Also, the calices are larger, more angular and tend to have much less prominent pali. Another fairly reliable calicular difference between this and P. lutea is that the ventral triplet of septa remain free at their tips, while they fuse into a trident shape in P. Lutea. Widespread, and found most commonly in gently sloping areas. It will always be found in sheltered areas of protected fringing reefs, and in lee slopes of patch reefs. Colonies are massive and may be several metres in diameter. Colour: brown or greenish-yellow. Abundance: common (Veron, 1986). Forms massive, domed colonies up to several metres in diameter. Similar to P. lutea but corallites are larger, up to 2mm wide. Colour: yellow to brownish. Habitat: common in sheltered areas on reef slopes (Richmond, 1997). Tropical Indo-Pacific in Kalk (1958).