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Types of Stony Coral

Stony corals exhibit a wide range of shapes. Click on the images below to view a larger image and a description of these corals.

Pillar corals

Pillar corals are a type of digitate coral, growing upward in cylindrical forms that have been compared to fingers or clumps of cigars. Digitate corals are distinguished from branching corals in that they have no secondary branches. Photo credit: JP Zegarra

Pillar corals

Pillar corals are a type of digitate coral, growing upward in cylindrical forms that have been compared to fingers or clumps of cigars. Digitate corals are distinguished from branching corals in that they have no secondary branches. Photo credit: JP Zegarra

Branching

Branching corals are characterized by having numerous branches, usually with secondary branches. This large field of branching corals belongs to the family Acroporidae. Photo credit: NOAA

Branching

Branching corals are characterized by having numerous branches, usually with secondary branches. This large field of branching corals belongs to the family Acroporidae. Photo credit: NOAA

Encrusting corals

Encrusting corals are characterized by low spreading growth forms that usually adhere to hard rocky surfaces. Growing larger in diameter versus upward like many other forms of coral, encrusting species have a major advantage over their branched relatives. Branching corals are much more susceptible to breakage due to violent storm conditions. Photo credit: NOAA

Encrusting corals

Encrusting corals are characterized by low spreading growth forms that usually adhere to hard rocky surfaces. Growing larger in diameter versus upward like many other forms of coral, encrusting species have a major advantage over their branched relatives. Branching corals are much more susceptible to breakage due to violent storm conditions. Photo credit: NOAA

Lobed star corals

The lobed star coral is a species of coral that lives in the western Atlantic Ocean. It grows into varying colony shapes (heads, columns, plates) in response to differing light conditions. Photo credit: NOAA

Lobed star corals

The lobed star coral is a species of coral that lives in the western Atlantic Ocean. It grows into varying colony shapes (heads, columns, plates) in response to differing light conditions. Photo credit: NOAA

Foliose corals

Corals with foliose or whorl-like growth patterns form beautiful structures that have been compared to the open petals of a flower. The coral's folds and convolutions greatly increase its surface area, and the spaces in between the whorls may provide shelter for fish and invertebrates. Photo credit: NOAA

Foliose corals

Corals with foliose or whorl-like growth patterns form beautiful structures that have been compared to the open petals of a flower. The coral's folds and convolutions greatly increase its surface area, and the spaces in between the whorls may provide shelter for fish and invertebrates. Photo credit: NOAA

Porites

Porites is a common genus of finger coral. However, Porites colonies come in all shapes and sizes, including branched, flat, and spherical. On these bigger colonies are patches of finger-like lobes. Species grow throughout the world, with some individual colonies growing into gigantic underwater structures. The oldest known Porites is in American Samoa and is over 500 years old. Photo credit: NOAA

Porites

Porites is a common genus of finger coral. However, Porites colonies come in all shapes and sizes, including branched, flat, and spherical. On these bigger colonies are patches of finger-like lobes. Species grow throughout the world, with some individual colonies growing into gigantic underwater structures. The oldest known Porites is in American Samoa and is over 500 years old. Photo credit: NOAA

Table corals

Corals that form broad horizontal surfaces are commonly called table corals. This pattern of growth increases the exposed surface area of the coral to the water column. Polyps are provided greater access to light for their zooxanthellae and it is easier for them to feed on zooplankton with their tentacles. Photo credit: Daniel Wagner/NOAA

Table corals

Corals that form broad horizontal surfaces are commonly called table corals. This pattern of growth increases the exposed surface area of the coral to the water column. Polyps are provided greater access to light for their zooxanthellae and it is easier for them to feed on zooplankton with their tentacles. Photo credit: Daniel Wagner/NOAA

Mushroom corals

Mushroom corals are often flat or dome-shaped, and circular or slightly oval in shape, resembling the cap of a mushroom. Most mushroom shaped corals are solitary forms living unattached to any underlying substrate. They are found in Indo-Pacific waters. Photo credit: NOAA

Mushroom corals

Mushroom corals are often flat or dome-shaped, and circular or slightly oval in shape, resembling the cap of a mushroom. Most mushroom shaped corals are solitary forms living unattached to any underlying substrate. They are found in Indo-Pacific waters. Photo credit: NOAA

Pocillopora

Commonly known as cauliflower coral, Pocillopora is a genus of coral in the Indo-Pacific and Pacific oceans. They have a variety of shapes and sizes depending on light availability. Photo credit: NOAA

Pocillopora

Commonly known as cauliflower coral, Pocillopora is a genus of coral in the Indo-Pacific and Pacific oceans. They have a variety of shapes and sizes depending on light availability. Photo credit: NOAA

Corals Topics

Welcome What are corals? What is Zooxanthellae? How do corals grow? How do coral reefs form? Where are corals found? How do corals reproduce? Why are coral reefs important? What are the major threats to corals? - Climate change - Pollution - Diseases - Fishing impacts What are the other threats to corals? Protecting corals - Laws and partnerships Protecting corals - Protected places Restoring corals

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Last updated:

08/21/24

Author: NOAA

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