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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
Echinophyllia aspera (Ellis and Solander, 1788)
| Family: |
Pectiniidae |
| Genera: |
Echinophyllia |
| Species: |
aspera |
| Field characteristics: |
Coral colonies form thin plates and are sometimes encrusting. Colonies may consist of several overlapping plates. This species has distinct striations on the growing margins and conspicuous fleshy corallite in the centre of the colonies. Corallites are large and sometimes protruding. Colourations are uniformly pink grey with lighter coloured corallite centre which may appear green, bright green or dark brown. Corallites are in contorted shape in grey, occasionally bright green in colour. |
| Abundance: |
Common |
| Distribution : |
This is a widespread coral species within Hong Kong especially in NE waters. Large colonies are recorded from the Marine Parks in Tung Ping Chau, Ho Hoi Wan and Yan Chau Tong.
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Echinophyllia aspera grows in plates with overlapping tiers (Top left)
and the toothed corallites (Top right). Another colour morph of
E. aspera (Bottom), with distinct green corallites.
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