Symphyllia (plant)

Symphyllia

Symphyllia is a genus of stony corals, which occurs in the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean, north to Japan and east to the south-central Pacific. The species of this genus live on reef slopes with moderate flow and to surf protected fringing reefs.

Features

The growth form of their massive colonies is dome-shaped. You can reach a diameter of up to 70 centimeters. The Koralliten are meandering wound ( meandroid ) and have a width of one to two centimeters. The walls between the Koralliten are relatively wide. On the often different colored top of the walls, there is usually a groove- like depression. Many small mouth openings in the valleys show that each corallite is home to several polyps. The tentacles of the polyps are retracted during the day. The corals feed mainly with the help of their symbiotic zooxanthellae. The color varies and can be brown, gray, green, rarely bluish or reddish and fluoresce. The upper zone or one side of the ramparts are often brightly colored.

System

Symphyllia is made in the traditional stone coral systematics in the polyphyletic in its current composition Mussidae family. In a recent phylogenetic study Symphyllia forms with Lobophyllia a common taxon, which in turn, together with Cynarina, Scolyma, Oxypora and Echinophyllia a new clade, a new hard coral family must be prepared for the probable.