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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
Montipora peltiformis (Bernard, 1897 )
| Family: |
Acroporidae |
| Genera: |
Montipora |
| Species: |
peltiformis |
| Common name: |
Velvet coral, Rice Coral |
| Field characteristics: |
Colonies are submassive, laminar and very delicate. Colonies in shallow habitat have a rough appearance due to the presence of upright nodules on their surface. Furthermore, close inspection of the colony surface will reveal the presence of many tiny elaborations, resulting in uneven skeletal surface. Deep water colonies form large plates with tiers overlapping, with very few upgrowth. The coral sometimes has a lighter colour growing edge which appears pink or purple. This species of coral has different growth forms at different water depths. Shallow water colonies form extensive horizontal plates typically dominated by nodular upgrowth. |
| Abundance: |
Common |
| Distribution : |
This is a common coral species in Hong Kong. The colonies can grow intensively and form large continuous coral beds, with individual up to a metre across. The species is the most abundant in the eastern waters. This coral is recorded in the northeastern Marine Parks of Tung Ping Chau, and Hoi Ha Wan. |
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| Shallow water growth form Montipora peltiformis |
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Deep water growth form
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