Diploastrea helipora

Description:

Colonies are dome-shaped with a very even surface and may be up to 2 m high and 7 m in diameter. The skeleton is very dense. he most characteristic feature of Diploastrea heliopora is its corallite wall structure. Walls are not solid but are delineated or formed by the thickened outer ends of the septa, which are not attached to each other laterally. This feature can even be detected beneath the tissue of the live corals. Shallow and mid-depths are preferred, almost always in sheltered water. The largest colonies are usually seen in silty environments, so it is commonly found on protected fringing reefs and back reef slopes, often beside sandy patches.