|
What are the twenty coral species commonly found in Hong Kong Marine Parks?
Classification of corals?
Description of twenty selected coral species commonly found within Hong Kong Marine Park Areas
Hydnophora exesa (Pallas, 1766)
| Family: |
Merulinidae |
| Genera: |
Hydnophora |
| Species: |
exesa |
| Field characteristics: |
Colonies are submassive to encrusting. Coral surface is characterized with uneven hillocky elaborations, giving the colony a spiny appearance. Colour varies from creamy, pink to purple, and sometimes grey or green. Tentacles are extended during the day, and are surrounded by small mound structures on the coral surfaces. These structures are called hydnophores and this is where the name of this coral is derived from. |
| Abundance: |
Abundant |
| Distribution : |
Mostly recorded from the northeastern and the eastern waters. It is a common species of the Marine Parks in the NE of Hong Kong. |
 |
 |
|
Hyndophora exesa,
with their typical hillocky structures on the coral surface
|
| 