A difficult, tedious and error prone with more than two hundred known species and the great similarity between many, acropora ID can be a really difficult task. And if that was not enough, this genus has a huge intraspecific variability depending on various factors such as the depth at which it is found (and thereby [...]
Open arborescent colonies with vertical, quite tapered branches and almost perpendicular insertions. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispheric and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular, perpendicular, rather tapered and small aperture, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Large arborescent colonies with cylindrical branches, straight and disorderly. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, sometimes incomplete, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor More information
Corymbose table-like colonies with short branches, equally spaced and orderly. At the edges tend to curl upwards. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated, small and abundant. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with rounded edges, distant from each other and of the same size (similar size to the axial ones). Coenosteum: Smooth [...]
Arborescent colonies with long, thick branches and shorter, almost perpendicular ones. Highly branched but quite open. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large but little prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed quite orderly at the tips and immersed at the base, close together and the same [...]
Arborescent colonies forming irregular tables, staggered, open and disorderly growing horizontally and not fusing together. Thin flattened and hispidose branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small, prominent and numerous. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and very small, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Bushy or encrusting table-like colonies, frequently with short branches. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical and with small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very rounded and arranged in rows, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Corymbose colonies forming cushion-shaped clumps, with very short main branches and vertical equidistant secondary ones. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular short with large aperture. Radial corallites: Scale-like forming rosette , next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Arborescent colonies that may be table-like. Rather open and separate but with compact secondary branches. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded with small aperture and arranged in rows, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Colonies form irregular clumps with thick branches, long and straight. Tapered and quite separate. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, large and little prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded with small opening, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Small corymbose and sometimes caespitose bushy colonies, with irregular branches that seek verticality curving upwards. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and rounded. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, some with nariform opening, next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Thick corymbose table-like colonies, with quite compact vertical branches, equally spaced and orderly. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and surrounded radial corallites. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and swollen. With small opening, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Colonies may form a thick table with distant and equidistant branches, cylindrical and curving upwards. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small but clearly noticeable. Radial corallites: Tubular, equidistant and very orderly in rows, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Large colonies that use to grow like staggered and irregular tables. Branches slightly flattened and strongly fused to sub-branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular short present on the edges of the colony. Radial corallites: Tubular, large and very small pocket-shaped, very close together and [...]
Small bushy colonies formed by hispidose, compact and disorderly branches. Colony shape: Bottlebrush, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, very elongated, cylindrical and curved. With small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very small and very few, only on main branches, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Large arborescent colonies with irregular, short and straight branches that are inserted perpendicularly. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed quite orderly with thick border and large opening, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Highly branched arborescent colonies with long vertical branches and hispidose look. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular long at the tips and immersed at the base, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, elongated, straight and finger-like. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispheric and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular short and arranged in rows, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Tangled bushy colonies with twisted branches and not very long growing vertically. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and very small, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Colonies with thick, circular section branches, straight and inserted perpendicularly. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherical large, not prominent and with a very small opening. Radial corallites: Immersed small, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Arborescent colonies forming caespitose clumps with straight and thin branches growing in all directions. Slightly hispidose . Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular with nariform opening, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Very large colonies with long curving branches, little divided and mainly growing upwards. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Immersed and very small, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Corymbose and sometimes table-like colonies with very neat, equally spaced vertical branches. Secondary branches are usually disorderly, sometimes forming bundles . Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated with sharp edge and large opening. Radial corallites: Scale-like forming rosette , coming between [...]
Table-like colonies with very flattened branches sprouting small lateral branches that tend to fuse. a blunt ridge can be seen on the underside of the branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small, prominent and cylindrical. Radial corallites: Tubular and visible only adpresos [...]
Table-like colonies with cylindrical and thick horizontal branches, partially fused. No vertical branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Indistinguishable. Radial corallites: Nariform appressed with circular opening and forming rosettes, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Bushy colonies sometimes forming a corymbose table-like structure, with vertical branches, orderly, quite separate and tapered finger-like, ending in a very elongated, spiky axial corallite. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, very elongated and spiky. Radial corallites: Barely any except at the base. [...]
Table-like colonies with thin and tidy vertical branches. Sometimes forming bulged thickets. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular with rounded edge. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with a prominent lower lip , next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Good [...]
Colonies as very intricate bushes with very disorderly and intertwined hispidose branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular prominent and slightly tapered. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very short, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Very large bushy colonies with many branches, straight and short. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular beveled and incomplete with slight curvature, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Large table-like colonies with a fused central part and sometimes staggered. Horizontal growth of branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated and thin. Radial corallites: Tubular and nariform appressed near the tips and immersed in the rest, apart and [...]
Colonies like clumps, usually with short, compact branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical and with small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular identical to the axial ones but smaller, next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Closed plate-shaped and staggered colonies with frequently lobed edges. With small, spiky and vertical branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular and prominent. Radial corallites: Immersed and organized in a rosette, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Arborescent colonies with hyspidose branches. Curved and very delicate looking secondary branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated and curved, some surrounded by radial corallites. Radial corallites: Tubular elongated and tubular appressed, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Large colonies forming almost entirely fused table-like structures except at the periphery and with few or no small vertical and irregular branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: And appressed tubular nariformes near the tips and immersed in the [...]
Table-like colonies with very flattened branches from where come out small side ones. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small, prominent and with tapered edge. Radial corallites: Various forms, very small and evenly distributed, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: [...]
Colonies forming corymbose clumps and sometimes table-like structures with thin, delicate-looking branches. Frequently with good polyp extension. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Scale-like but without forming rosette, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Very large bushy colonies with many branches, straight and short. Relatively open and hispidous look. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, very thin with big opening and barely distinguishable from radial ones. Radial corallites: Tubular, very elongated and curved with sharp edge (there is also [...]
Table-like colonies, tight close at the center with small lump-like vertical branches . In strong current places they form amorphous and compact masses. Colony shape: Cluster, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Appressed tubular and tubular thick-walled and small [...]
Corymbose or caespitose bushy colonies with thick tapered branches but not spiky. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and with a relatively wide edge. Radial corallites: Tubular arranged in rows, longer at the base, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Colonies form irregular clumps with thick branches, short and compact but little fused. Colony shape: Cluster, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular little bit prominent and outstanding. Radial corallites: Rounded, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Colonies form irregular clumps with thick branches, short and compact highly fused. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony cluster: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular little bit prominent and outstanding. Radial corallites: Rounded with small opening, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Small compact bushy colonies sometimes forming an irregular table-like structure, with compact upright finger-like branches. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispheric large, rounded and very little prominent, almost indistinguishable. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very short, thick wall with small rounded [...]
Arborescent colonies, frequently corymbose with thick branches, elongated and finger-like, sometimes slightly curved and tapered. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispheric and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular thick-walled, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Colonies forming tangled clumps with not so long branches , perpendicularly inserted, growing vertically. The axial and radial corallites are quite the same. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular short and thin. Radial corallites: Tubular and very small, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Small elkhorn-like colonies , with very thick and open branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Elkhorn: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherical large, not prominent and with a very small opening. Radial corallites: Rounded very large and smaller immersed, all with small opening, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Large colonies with thick crooked branches, prostrated and fused. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony cluster: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular scarce and indistinguishable. Radial corallites: Tubular, different types and sizes, close together. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Bushy colonies with up to three branching levels. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical and short. Radial corallites: Tubular incomplete and smaller tubular appressed , next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Large encrusting colonies with very thick and tapered branches at the center and thinner and prostrate ones at the edges. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, beveled and circular, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, very short, straight and finger-shaped, ending in a very small axial corallite. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, small and nothing prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, disorderly and sometimes nariform, very close to each other and of the same size. [...]
Irregula table-like colonies with very thin branches forming an open mesh lacking vertical branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular very small and prominent. Radial corallites: Triangular with nariform opening, scarce and present only on the peripheral sub-branches, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Large arborescent colonies with slightly curved and disorderly branches . Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, small and rather orderly , next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Arborescent colonies forming small disorderly clumps, short and crooked. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular slightly tapered . Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Arborescent colonies forming compact clumps with straight and thin branches growing in all directions. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular slightly curved and tubular appressed. Arranged in rows, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Corymbose bushy colonies with irregularly spaced branches, thin and not very elongated. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small but clearly noticeable. Radial corallites: Scale-like forming rosette , next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good with very long polyps [...]
Irregularly branched colonies in the same plane which is usually vertical at the center and horizontal at the periphery. Some branches end up fusing toguether. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular with beveled opening, of different length and sorted [...]
Corymbose bushy colonies, slightly branched, vertical finger-like branches with spiny appearance, short, tapered and equidistant. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular, irregular in shape and size but some arranged in rows, very close together and [...]
Very large table-like colonies, sometimes staggered. Horizontal curving branches that divide laterally at regular intervals ending at tip. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Caespitose or corymbose clump-like colonies , usually with short, compact branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, short and with small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular appressed with thick, rounded edge, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Thick table-like colonies, formed by partially fused and delicate horizontal branches curving upwards irregularly and without forming bundles. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, very thin and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very scarce on main branches, close to each other [...]
Large encrusting colonies with very thick branches, short, sometimes tapered and flattened. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Elkhorn: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Indistinguishable. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, small, irregular, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Small colonies forming very flat staggered table-like structures with horizontal branches that fuse almost completely with neighboring ones. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and tapered. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very small and disorderly on the upper face and sides, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: [...]
Very large colonies that frequently grow like staggered and irregular table-like structures or like very thorny bushes. With short spiky branches that fuse with nearby ones. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and abundant. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular appressed with nariform opening, proximate and different [...]
Not very large colonies forming disorderly and compact clumps. Short and cylindrical branches looking hispidose and with frequent divisions. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular with beveled edge, elongated and slightly curved. Orderly, distant from each other and of the same size. [...]
Large colonies forming not very compact bushes with long branches, straight and disorderly. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated and thick-walled . Radial corallites: Tubular with thick edge. Sometimes they have elongated lower edge giving them a scale look, orderly, apart and the same [...]
Very large corymbose table-like colonies . Compact branches with short bundles, orderly and vertical at the center and prostrate at the edges. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and elongated. Abundant on each bundle. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very compact and rounded, very close together and [...]
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Very large arborescent colonies of bushy branched clumps with strait branches. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular with rounded edge and tubular appressed arranged in rows, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Colonies forming separated clumps with short branches, thick and tapered that curve upwards. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small but clearly visible and with thick edge. Radial corallites: Scale-like, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Large and flat, delicate table-like colonies, sometimes staggered. With short branches and forming compact clusters. Abundance of axial and incipient axial corallites that yield hispidose aspect. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated, thin and very abundant. Radial corallites: Immersed in the lower branches and [...]
Encrusting colonies with occasional upright branching. Colony shape: Encrusting, Layout staghorn colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular prominent but scarce. Radial corallites: Lip-like of different size and orientation, close to each other. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Elkhorn-like huge colonies. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Elkhorn: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular only at the edges. Radial corallites: Tubular pf different lengths, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Sub-massive colonies forming ridges and huge columns. Colony shape: Elkhorn, Disposition of the colony encrusting: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Almost nonexistent. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Colonies forming very flat staggered tables with partially fused horizontal branches. Small vertical branches widely spaced or just axial corallites. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and rounded. Quite inconspicuous and similar to the radial ones. Radial corallites: Rounded thick and large wall [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick finger-like branches. The base is encrusted and fused, vertical branches sprout thick and cylindrical. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherical, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with rounded edge and small aperture, very close together and different [...]
Colonies with pretty straight and cylindrical branches, very spiky. Disorderly and compact. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular not very large. Radial corallites: Tubular incomplete and smaller tubular appressed , next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Small bushy colonies consisting of separate bottlebrush-like branches, distinguishable and disorderly. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular rounded so short that are very inconspicuous. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular appressed with small opening, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Staggered table-like colonies, with horizontal branches irregularly fused giving an almost closed appearance. Sprouting small curving and irregular branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, circular and beveled, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Corymbose colonies with straight vertical and orderly branches. Slightly branched and tapered. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular with thick edge. Radial corallites: Tubular with beveled opening and nariform. Arranged in rows, next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Compact bushy colonies with straight vertical and orderly branches. Slightly branched and rather blunt. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular with rounded edge. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, circular and elongated, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Bushy colonies sometimes forming a corymbose table-like structure, with vertical branches, orderly, quite spaced, conical, finger-shaped and terminating in a very elongated axial corallite. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular very elongated and slightly tapered. Radial corallites: Tubular to be inserted at right angles [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, short, straight and finger-shaped pyramid section ending in a very small axial corallite. Colony shape: Digital layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, small and nothing prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular arranged in rows, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Thick table-like colonies with thin corymbose branches that intersect and intertwine. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, short and regular, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Good
Encrusting colonies, normally lacking ramifications. Colony shape: Thickness fouling branches: No axial branches corallites: Nonexistent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Corymbose bushy colonies with orderly branches, thin and not very elongated. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small but clearly noticeable. Radial corallites: Scale-like forming rosette , very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good with very long polyps [...]
Arborescent, cushion-shaped colonies. Slender branches, quite straight, disorderly and very divided. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent with small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular orderly, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Corymbose table-like colonies with short branches, straight, tapered and orderly, populated with many incipient corallites and irregular radial corallites. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular appressed quite irregular, spiky and with nariform opening, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Arborescent colonies forming irregular and twisted tangles. Very rough appearance. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small. Radial corallites: Tubular and immersed disorderly and very irregular in shape and size, next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Corymbose bushy colonies, slightly branched, vertical finger-like branches with spiny appearance, short, tapered and equidistant. Colony shape: Digital layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular irregular, some very long and with beveled openings that yields spiny appearance, proximate and [...]
Small colonies forming clumps or disorderly table-like structures. Short and irregular branches, with lumps. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical large and with small opening. Radial corallites: Immersed very small and inconspicuous, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Corymbose table-like colonies with short branches, thick and orderly. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed arranged in rows and with smaller corallites filling the gaps, next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Not very large arborescent colonies with corymbose appearance. Thick branches with tapered tip. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded with small opening, Tubular beveled, immersed and nariform, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Very large arborescent colonies. The main branches are thick, long, curved and disorderly but they do not fuse. The terminal branches are short, many inserted perpendicularly and rather straight. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, large and little prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular large, semispherical and not prominent, very close to each [...]
Small bushy or table-like colonies slightly disorderly. Branches with highly variable shape but always short and devoid of corallites on one side. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular short and very rounded with a small aperture. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular shaped adpresos [...]
Small bushy colonies consisting of separate bottlebrush-like branches, distinguishable and disorderly. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular rounded so short that are very inconspicuous. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded and tubular appressed with thick walls and small aperture, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Small table-like colonies with thick horizontal main branches and short vertical clusters formed by many axial polyps. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and long with small opening. Abundant. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, small and pocket shaped. Scarce, dispersed and [...]
Large arborescent colonies with slightly curved and disorderly branches . Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular prominent. Radial corallites: Scale-like, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Corymbose compact bushy colonies, slightly branched, pretty neat tapered branches and spiny appearance. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony cluster: Thickness ordered branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial few corallites: Tubular and nariform appressed near the tips and immersed in the rest, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Smooth [...]
Small corymbose and sometimes caespitose bushy colonies, with short and somewhat irregular branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular prominent with small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with thick and rounded wall, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Thick table-like colonies with thin corymbose branches that do not intersect. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, prominent with big opening. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and rounded, lower lip prominent and forming rosette, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Very large corymbose table-like colonies , staggered and with short tapered branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, prominent with big opening. Radial corallites: Scale-like forming rosette at the tips and immersed in the thick branches, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Corymbose colonies that can form a table-like structure with vertical branches. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Lip-like appressed with circular opening and equally spaced (with smaller disorderly ones), next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Highly branched and disorderly bushy colonies with delicate and hispidose appearance. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small but very conspicuous. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and some irregular , distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Compact bushy colonies with thin vertical branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with small beveled opening, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Good
Table-like fused colonies with vertical branches, short, thick, orderly, finger-shaped and usually very tapered. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and thick walled. Radial corallites: Tubular short, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Large and flat, delicate table-like colonies. With short and compact branches. Abundant axial corallites slightly tapered and emerging that makes it look rather hispidous. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, abundant, very elongated and slightly tapered . Radial corallites: Almost nonexistent, spaced and [...]
Table-like colonies fused at the center and wide branches opening towards the edges. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular very small and inconspicuous. Radial corallites: Tubular incomplete and nariform, next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Colonies forming irregular corymbose clumps, with main branches almost horizontal and disorderly sub-branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with small beveled opening and prominent lower lip, distant and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Arborescent colonies forming open clumps with thin branches growing in all directions. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: Axial corallites: Tubular small. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular appressed, distant and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Large arborescent colonies that can form table-like structures with vertical branches at the center and prostrate at the periphery. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Flat table-shaped colonies with fine branches that curve upwards in an orderly way. The central branches are usually fused. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular rounded and slightly prominent. Radial corallites: Appressed lip-shaped forming rosettes, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, not very elongated, straight and finger-like. Colony shape: Digital layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherical and thick but not outstanding. Radial corallites: Tubular short, with thick wall, arranged in rows and very close to each other. Sometimes there are small smaller corallites [...]
Highly branched bushy colonies with compact vertical branches and hispidose look. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular irregular at the tips and immersed on the base, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good
Large colonies with fused branches at the base, irregular and vertical in the center and prostrate at the periphery. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular beveled, arranged in rows and with great opening, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Large bushy colonies with thick irregular branches, long and straight. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, large and little prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular tapered and rounded with small opening, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Large bushy and compact colonies with short and tapered branches that fuse vertically. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular with beveled edge, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good
Table-shaped colonies with tidy, straight, horizontal branches . The secondary branches curve upwards and are short and equidistant. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, usually elongated, with small opening and abundant. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, small and pocket shaped. Scarce, apart and [...]
Very large colonies with thick disorderly curved branches mainly growing upwards . Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and very prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular of different sizes (long near the tips) and distant from each other. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Colonies formed by straight and disorderly branches inserted in obtuse angles and growing in all directions. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and very prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular with circular opening, and small curved ends, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Small arborescent colonies with thick branches, short, straight and finger-shaped pyramid section ending in a very small axial corallite. Irregular radial corallites. Colony shape: Digital layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, very small and little prominent, almost indistinguishable. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, circular and beveled. Irregular [...]
Colonies forming very flat staggered tables with partially fused horizontal branches. Small vertical branches widely spaced or just axial corallites. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and little distinguishable. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, rounded thick-walled and big opening. Arranged in a row, close to each other [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, short, straight and finger-shaped, ending in a very small axial corallite. Colony shape: Digital layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, small and nothing prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, circular and beveled, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Very large arborescent colonies. The main branches are thick, curving, twisted, disordered and partially fused. With few secondary branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular little bit prominent and outstanding. Radial corallites: Tubular irregular at the tips and immersed on the base, very close to each other and of different sizes. [...]
Very large colonies with long curving branches, little divided and mainly growing upwards. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular beveled and tubular small , next to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Very large arborescent colonies. The main branches are thick, long, curving, disordered and partially fused but the terminal branches are short, quite straight, tapered and very abundant. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and with thick edges. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded and sorted and immersed in some [...]
Colonies forming bushy tangled clumps with very long and slightly divided branches growing in all directions. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular very elongated and thin. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and very small, distant from each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Colonies forming bushy tangled clumps with not very long twisted branches, growing vertically and bottlebrush-like. The axial and radial corallites are quite the same. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular short and thin. Radial corallites: Tubular and very small, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Bushy colonies sometimes forming a corymbose table-like structure, with vertical branches, orderly, quite spaced, conical, finger-shaped and terminating in a very elongated axial corallite. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large, very prominent and conical. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded, close together and [...]
Bushy colonies with hyspidose branches of delicate appearance . The secondary branches are usually perpendicular. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and very prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular long and slightly curved with open lips and some small scale-like ones, distant from each other and of different sizes. [...]
Colonies forming bushy straight, spiky, hyspidose branches resembling a fir tree. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and rounded. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and rounded, close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Sub-massive colonies with thick, irregular vertical branches that use to join together. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, not prominent and visible on the edges. Almost nonexistent. Radial corallites: Tubular of different thickness and length giving a very rough appearance, close to each other. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Corymbose bushy and sometimes table-like colonies with thin straight horizontal branches growing radially partially fused and disordered vertical branches. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular rounded, close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Table-like colonies with very flattened branches from where come out small side ones. a blunt ridge can be seen on the underside of the branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small, prominent and with rounded edges. Radial corallites: Tubular and tubular adpresos alone in the face [...]
Very large table-like colonies, branches completely fused with some occasional and sparse upwards branching. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: No axial branches corallites: Tubular that do not differ from radial ones and very few. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed on the upper face, near each [...]
Arborescent colonies with hyspidose branches, compact and prostrate, frequently intertwined. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated and abundant. With thin wall. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very short and very scarce, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Large colonies that use to grow like staggered and irregular tables. Branches strongly fused at the center of the colony and somewhat curved up at the edges. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular, beveled with nariform opening, disorderly, proximate and [...]
Colonies can form a thick table-like structure with short branches, separate and equally spaced, cylindrical and blunt that curve upwards. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular short and little distinguishable. Radial corallites: Appressed with prominent scale-like lips, sometimes in two sizes, close to each other. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Table-like colonies not fused except the base. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed arranged in rows on the tips and immersed on the base, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Bushy compact colonies sometimes forming table-like structures, with vertical finger-like branches. Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with thick, rounded wall, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Corymbose table-like colonies with short branches, thick and orderly. Several axial corallites on each branch which generally grow horizontally on the edges of the colony. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: Axial corallites: Tubular small and prominent. Several on each branch. Radial corallites: Appressed tubular with rounded edges and [...]
Bushy tangled colonies with very long, dividing branches growing in all directions. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: <5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular very elongated and thin. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and very small, distant and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Table-like fused colonies with vertical branches, orderly, quite spaced and finger-shaped, frequently tapered. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Immersed and very small, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Very thin table-like colonies with small branches that curve upwards in an orderly way. There are usually slightly fused areas. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, prominent with big opening. Radial corallites: Appressed nariform with beveled opening, distant and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Bushy colonies with thick, circular-section branches and blunt tips, dividing up irregularly. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherica, large but no prominent, and with a very small aperture. Radial corallites: Small and immersed, very close to each other and of the same size. [...]
Sub-massive colonies, predominantly horizontal . Usually without branches, although sometimes it produces some very thick and flattened branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony encrusting: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Almost nonexistent, sometimes on the edges. Radial corallites: Emerging, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Encrusting colonies. Branchless, just very crowded corallites. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony encrusting: Thickness disorderly branches: No axial branches corallites: Almost nonexistent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Arborescent, cushion-shaped colonies. Not very thick branches, disorderly and very divided. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and with big opening. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Bushy colonies with thick and tapered vertical branches that start from an encrusted base and end in not prominent but very conspicuous corallites. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, large, semispheric but little prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with rounded edges, irregular [...]
Corymbose colonies with long, thin, irregular and spaced branches. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Appressed with prominent scale-like lips, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Very good
Large colonies that use to grow like staggered and irregular tables. Branches are strongly fused at the center of the colony. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular, beveled with nariform opening, disorderly, very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, finger shaped, growing irregularly from several points. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherical and thick. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, short and rounded , very close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor
Very large colonies with spiky branches, little branched, growing mainly upwards but in all directions. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular beveled, close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good
Caespitose and sometimes corymbose colonies with fine and neat dividing branches in all directions in an upward angle. Spiny appearance. Colony shape: Finger, Disposition of the colony kills: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed with beveled opening and nariform on the tips of the branches. Quite [...]
Bushy colonies, tangled with twisted branches and not very long, growing in all directions. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: < 5 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular rounded and slightly prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and very small. Spaced and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Table-like colonies with straight horizontal and disorderly branches. The secondary branches curve upwards and are short and equidistant. Axial corallites are tapered and sometimes spiky. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular conical, and usually elongated, with small opening. Radial corallites: Tubular [...]
Arborescent colonies with hyspidose branches. Very branched. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular and slightly tapered. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed in secondary and tertiary branches, immersed in the main branches. Spaced and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Arborescent colonies with thick, finger-shaped and a bit spiky branches growing in all directions. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispherical and thick but not outstanding. Radial corallites: Tubular small, round and with large opening. Close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Colonies forming very flat tables and terraces with fully fused horizontal branches. Small vertical branches widely spaced or just axial corallites. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Hemispherical, not outstanding and similar to the axial corallites. Radial corallites: Nariform with thick and rounded edges. Close together and [...]
Table shaped colonies with fine and separate branches that grow horizontally till the edge without fusing each other. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular very small and inconspicuous. Radial corallites: Appressed nariform, small and disorderly, close together and of the same size. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
Corymbose table-like colonies with small vertical bottlebrush corsages (bottlebrush) with a single axial corallite, pretty messy and with predominant horizontal growth. Colony shape: Table, Disposition of the colony hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular elongated and very thin, curved and spiky. Radial corallites: Tubular sometimes appressed, curved [...]
Colonies formed by compact bushes with thin vertical branches that start from the base (there are barely any secondary branches) Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: Axial corallites: Tubular with small openings. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed and nariform with rounded openings, next to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Small bushy colonies consisting of separate bottlebrush-like branches, distinguishable and disorderly. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Hispidosa: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and not very prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, very small and very few, only on main branches, distant from each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Extension smooth polyps: Poor [...]
Very large arborescent colonies. The main branches are thick, long, curving, disordered and partially fused. The terminal branches are short, tapered and very abundant. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular, small, thick-walled and small aperture. Radial corallites: Tubular arranged in rows and thick-walled tubular adpresos [...]
Large arborescent colonies with vertical and spiky finger-shaped branches. Colony shape: Staghorn, digital layout of the colony: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Radial corallites: Scale-like of different sizes, close to each other and orderly. Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Arborescent colonies with thick branches, finger-shaped and slightly spiky growing in all directions. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Semispheric and not prominent. Radial corallites: Tubular appressed, rounded thick-walled and big opening. Arranged in rows, close to each other and of the same size. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Corymbose or turf shaped colonies with thick conical branches. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular tapered and prominent with small aperture. Radial corallites: Tubular with nariform opening and rounded edges. Untidy and with many incipient corallites. Close to each other and in different sizes. Coenosteum: Rough Extension [...]
Encrusting or corymbose table shaped colonies with short branches, thick and orderly. Several axial corallites on each branch. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular small and prominent. Several on each branch and larger than the radial corallites. Radial corallites: Appressed tubular rosette forming close together and [...]
Large arborescent colonies with irregular, long, curving branches that are inserted at 45º. Bottlebrush appearance. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Small and prominent radial tubular corallites: Tubular slightly curved and tubular appressed. Arranged in rows, separate and different sizes Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Colonies may form a thick table with distant and equidistant branches, cylindrical and curving upwards. Colony shape: Staghorn, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Small tube and leading radio corallites: Tubular cochlear, disorderly, proximate and different sizes Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor
Corymbose bush shaped colonies and sometimes forming thin plates with horizontal branches growing radially straight and vertical branches forming small and thin clusters . Colony shape: Bush, Disposition of the colony plate: Thickness ordered branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Small and little prominent tubular radial corallites: Tubular appressed and nariform, and close together [...]
Large colonies with thick branches, spiky and fused at the base; the branches are often prostrated on the sides. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: >20 mm Coralitos axiales: Large tubular featured little radial corallites: Tubular, elongated and spiny, very close to each other and of different sizes Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Poor [...]
Large bushy colonies with thick irregular branches, short and fused at the base. Colony shape: Disposition of the colony Mata: Thickness disorderly branches: 10-20 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular immersed and thick but distinguishable and with a small aperture. Radial corallites: Tubular, tiny and round with small opening. Very close to each other and of different sizes. Coenosteum: Straight Extension [...]
Arborescent colonies with large cylindrical branches, thick and relatively straight in all directions. Colony shape: Staghorn layout of the colony: Thickness disorderly branches: 5-10 mm Coralitos axiales: Tubular large and prominent radial corallites: Tubular with large circular opening, close together and the same size Coenosteum: Rough polyps Extension: Good [...]
