Knob Coral

Description:

This is the most variable Favia coral in terms of calice size, although there is a consistency of pattern. Corallite diameter ranges from 5mm to just over 1cm. Mature corallites from stressed areas are generally smaller in size, while those in clear water reef slopes are larger. Calices are irregular in shape, and have raised rims. Septa are widely spaced and irregular. They are visibly fewer in number than similar sized F. speciosa.

Habitat:

This is a very abundant coral, being the most common of the Favia. It is seen on reef slopes from 5 to 35m deep, in clear water, exposed outer reefs as well as in more turbid, back reef environments.

Notes:

The spherical coral colony was about 12cm wide. Spotted it at a depth of about 15m.