Brain coral

Colpophyllia natans

The Faviidae are a family of stony corals ( Scleractinia ). Of all the families, it contains the most species. They live in all tropical seas, some species endemic to the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean or the Caribbean. Like most other stony corals they live in a symbiotic relationship with algae ( zooxanthellae ) that supply the coral with nutrients. They are therefore dependent on dark locations.

Appearance

Many species grow in large colonies and can reach several meters in diameter. Their growth because of the massive skeletal structure is very slow. Large colonies must therefore be hundreds of years old. The pattern of large polyps often reminiscent of the convolutions of a brain. They therefore got the name of Germany brain coral.

Endangering

Brain corals can also be grown in well-kept marine aquariums. The compact growing species from the family Faviidae but can not be easily propagated as the branchy growing Acropora and Montipora. Therefore, they are still heavily collected in the coral reefs. Only parts of the coral heads are knocked to the chisel and severely damaged the mother Stock. The Faviidae are like other large polyped stony corals in many places already become rare.

Genera

  • Astreosmilia Duncan, 1867
  • Australogyra Veron, 1982
  • Barabattoai Yabe & Sugiyama, 1941
  • Bikiniastrea Wells, 1954
  • Caulastraea Dana, 1846
  • Colpophyllia Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Cyphastrea Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Diploria Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Echinopora Lamarck, 1816
  • Erythrastrea Pichon, Scheer & Pillai, 1983
  • Favia Oken, 1815
  • Link Favites, 1807
  • Goniastrea Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Leptastrea Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Leptoria Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Manicina Ehrenberg, 1834
  • Montastraea de Blainville, 1830 Montastraea cavernosa
  • Montastraea annularis
Hexacorallia John Walter Gregory Genus Aquarium Berlin Great star coral
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