Starflower Coral

zooxanthellate

Colonies of Astreopora myriophthalma are massive, in the Arabian area rarely more than 25 cm in diameter though up to 0.5 m diameter in the central Indian Ocean. Calices are sometimes immersed, usually with a thin, raised rim, or commonly form conical mounds up to 4 mm tall above the coenosteum. Both forms occur on the same corallum. The calices are deep and 1-2 mm diameter. This is a widespread but not very common species. It is found in a wide range of depths on fore- and back-reef slopes, from clear to moderately turbid water. It appears to avoid locations of severe environmental extremes. (Sheppard, 1998 <308>). Colonies are hemispherical, with an even surface. Corallites are evenly spaced and conical with rounded calices. Colour: cream, brownish-blue or yellow, sometimes mottled. Abundance: by far the most common species of Astreopora, found in most reef habitats except in very turbid water. (Veron, 1986 <57>) Colonies are usually encrusting (rarely more than 3 m across) or form plates or massive bulbous, hemispherical mounds. The characteristic corallites are well-defined, slightly conical (2 mm across) with twelve vertical spines around the edges. Colour: varies from cream and yellow to a pale bluish-brown; may be mottled. Habitat: diverse, in clear water. (Richmond, 1997)