Karan Deshpande
( Favites sp. )
Found in warm shallow waters between 0-45 m.
Native to the Indian ocean region, these stony corals have colonies that are massive and usually dome shaped. These corals are also referred to as the brain corals or 'closed brain coral'. The corallites or an individual coral polyp usually share the same wall with the other coral polyps. A standing out feature of these corals are their centeres which are of a different colour from their walls.
Like other stony corals, they also have 'zooxanthellae' that provide the coral with energy while also feeding themselves by catching suspended organic matter in the water.
Vardhan Patankar
Karan Deshpande
( Goniopora sp. )
Found in warm shallow waters between 0-45 m.
Often referred to as the flower pot coral, these stony corals have daisy like polyps that extend outwards from the base and can be found in several colours. Each polyp has 24 stinging tentacles that surround a mouth. The corals can be found in a number of colours, green, brown and pink are some to name a few.
Feed on plankontic particles in the water by catching them using their tentacles while also being provided with energy from their zooxanthellae.
Karan Deshpande
( Montastrea cavernosa )
Found in warm shallow waters between 0-45 m.
Monastrea cavernosa is a stony coral which are the only corals in this family. Their colonies are massive forming boulders or domes or even flat plates. Their corallites or individual coral polyps are variable but form conical shapes and are the size of the human thumb. You can find them in shallow reef waters in green, brown orange or grey in colour.
Feed on plankontic particles in the water by catching them using their tentacles while also being provided with energy from their zooxanthellae.
Karan Deshpande
( Galaxea fascicularis )
Found in warm shallow waters between 2-15 m.
A common species of stony coral found along the Indian coast is the octopus coral. Small colonies are usuallly irregular in shape however, large colonies extend more than 5 m across and are massive. The corallites are a mix of sizes and are usually less than 10 m in diameter. These species are known to extend their tentacles out in the day and can be found in areas of the coral reef which are protected from strong wave action. They vary in any colour between green, grey-brown or red but an identifiable feature is their tentacles having white tips.
Feed on plankontic particles in the water by catching them using their tentacles while also being provided with energy from their zooxanthellae.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Tubastrea coccinea )
They can be found in sheltered areas where there is a lack of cover from other coral species at depths between 1-37m in warm waters.
The feed on planktonic particles that they catch using their tentacles.
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Tubastrea faulkneri )
This species of large polyp stony coral can be found in areas of high nutrient content and strong water flow, not necessarily in association with reefs at depths of 3-5m
These corals do not have photosynthetic algal cells and hence, they depend completely on using their tentacles to catch planktonic particles in the water to feed on.
Karan Deshpande
( Pocillopora sp. )
Found in warm shallow waters between 0-45 m.
These type of stony corals, due to their resemblance are often referred to as the cauliflower corals. They vary in size and colour, depending on the physical conditions and the environment. Corals closer to shallow waters which are more affected by the action of the tides and constant change tend to be stunted in growth and wide, while species a bit deeper in calmer waters tend to be thin and open. Like most other stony corals, these also have symbiotic algal cells residing in their cells that conduct photosynthesis. In additon, they also provide shelter for a number of species of small crabs and shrimp.
Feed on plankontic particles in the water by catching them using their tentacles while also being provided with energy from their zooxanthellae.
Karan Deshpande
( Porites sp. )
Found in warm shallow waters between 0-45 m.
Porites are small polyp stony corals, colonies for these type of corals are also generally massive. The corallites or individual coral polyps are shallow and do not stick out, hence making the surface of the coral appear smooth and with tiny pores. They form lumps throughout the colony, you are likely to also see them extend their tentacles during the day as well. These type of corals often serve as a home to the christmas tree worms. The porite corals are known to be very tolerant to high salinity levels and hence, give them a survival advantage.
Feed on plankontic particles in the water by catching them using their tentacles while also being provided with energy from their zooxanthellae.
Vardhan Patankar
Phalguni Ranjan
Karan Deshpande
( Acropora sp )
Found in warm shallow waters between 0-45 m.
Another type of small polyp stony corals are acropora corals. The staghorns are a type of branching stony corals that are cylinder in shape, these can extend from a few cm to a few m depending on the age of the coral. These type of corals are known to be one of the major coral reef builders by creating massive calcium carbonate structures that the corals secrete. Most species are brown or green in colour, but few species are brightly coloured. Given the right favourable conditions, the Acropora corals can grow quite fast and hence are considered ideal reef builders.
Feed on plankontic particles in the water by catching them using their tentacles while also being provided with energy from their zooxanthellae.
Coastal Impact
Phalguni Ranjan
( Turbinaria reniformis )
They are found in shallow waters along coral reefs between the depths of 0-40m.
The yellow scroll coral formes horizontal plates in rows and is yellow-green in colour. They have small corallites that extend their tentacles mostly during the night time. These corals have photosynthetic algal cells within their tissue.
They receive most of their energy from the algal cells. However, they may extend their tentacles in the night to catch planktonic particles from the water column.
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
Vardhan Patankar
( Heteractis magnifica )
Prefers hard substrates in areas where there is abundant light and current from surface to about 40 m.
The magnificent sea anemone can reach to about 1 m in diameter. They have several tentacles that are placed in concentric circles. The tips are often in a lighter colour than the rest of the tentacle. The visible outer structure of the anemone which is referred to as the 'column' can range in colour from blue to pink, purple and even brown. These anemones often house species of clownfish and are hence crucial to their survival, they also host other fish such as damsels and some shrimp.
The gain most of their energy from their photosynthetic algal cells (zooxanthellae) while also using their tentacles to feed on small invertebrates and small fish.
Vardhan Patankar
( Heteractis aurora )
Spotted around rocky intertidal areas that are exposed to the sun because of tides. Found in crevices and cracks.
The beaded sea anemone have tentacles than reach to about 5 cm in length and feel sticky when touched, these also display pinkish coloured tips. The longer tentacles appear to look swelled up and are present only on one side and hence giving them the appearance of beads on a string, hence their name.
They feed on small crustaceans and planktonic organims.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Fungia fungites )
Inhabit reef slopes and lagoons at depths between 0-40 m.
Fungia are corals that can grow to about 30 cm in diameter. They are solitary and when young may attach themselves to rock and when larger are free living. You can find them in several colours ranging from white, pink, red, blue and purple. They are round to oval in shape and are free living.
They feed by opening up their coral polyps to spread their tentacles for catching planktonic organisms.
Vardhan Patankar
( Alveopora sp. )
Associated with coral reefs in depths between 0-40m.
Alveopora corals form colonies that are massive, branching and usually are irregularly shaped. Each corallite or individual coral polyp are large, fleshy and are usually extended both in the day and night. They exhibit twelve tentacles with swollen tips. These corals have symbiotic zooxanthellae residing in their tissue and can vary in colour between white, grey, brown and cream as well.
Most of their energy comes from their symbiotic algae, the rest of the energy needs are met through catching planktonic organisms.
Vardhan Patankar
( Physogyra lichtensteini )
Thrive in depths of 0-40 m in areas where water is a bit turbid or cloudy.
Identified due to their fleshy soft tissue or 'vesicles' that resemble bubbles all over. These corals are home to several small invertebrates that reside amongst their tentacles. During the day, their tentacles are usually retracted and they appear grey to a drab green colour.
They feed my spreading their tentacles out to feed on plankton in the night.
Vardhan Patankar
( Fimbriaphyllia ancora )
Seen in shallow water environments with exposure to some action from waves or current at depths from the surface down to about 40 m.
Identifiable owing to their puffy appearing and T-shaped tentacle tips that resemble the shape of hammers. Colonies of the hammer coral can be quite big, growing up to a few meters. The colour of these corals vary from blue-grey to orange . They leave their tentacles extended almost all the time, making their T shape tips visible and allowing one to distinguish them from others of its kind.
Depend on the zooxanthellae for most of their energy while also feeding on plankton with their tentacles.
Joydeep Sarkar
( Heliofungia actiniformis )
Occurs on reef slopes and flats between 1-25 m.
Circular or oval with a diameter of about 20 cm and height of 7 cm, these corals have a thick and solid skeleton. With a single mouth in the center surrounded by thick tentacles and knobs at the end of each, these corals mirror the appearance of a mushroom, and is the reason for their name. Although mushroom corals do have photosynthetic cells in their tissue, they almost always spread their tentacles.
During the day, they receive energy from the zooxanthellae and in the night by feeding on planktonic organisms with their tentacles.
Vardhan Patankar
( Plerogyra sinuosa )
Associated with coral reefs in depths between 0-40m.
Their soft tissue appearing as bubbles which change in size depending on the amount of light present is the reason for their name. When light is available the bubbles or 'vesicles' appear larger and smaller when light is unavailable or in the night time. They are known to prefer regions with low light and gentle water flow and are a species of coral consisting of zooxanthellae which reside in their 'vesicles'.
They gain 90% of their energy needs from the zooxanthellae performing photosynthesis. And the rest of the energy needs are met by spreading its tentacles to feed on planktonic matter in the night time.
Vardhan Patankar
( Dendronephthya hemprichii )
Inhabit depths of shallow coastal waters between 1-32 m.
This species of soft coral resemble the build of a tree with a transparent appearing trunk and polyps that are pink to orange in colour. Attaining a maximum length of 70 cm, they do not have the photosythesis performing zooxanthellae present in their tissue and therefore depend on actively feeding for sustenance
They feed by opening up their coral polyps to spread their tentacles for catching planktonic organisms.
Vardhan Patankar
( Cynarina lacrymalis )
Found in shallow reefs and sandy areas with exposure to water flow and currents down to depths of 40 m.
The cat's eye coral can reach a diameter of about 15 cm, you can find them fixed to a rock or resting on sand. Consiting of a single coral polyp or corallite, they have around twenty ridges adjoined together with ridges in the middle as well forming a structure that resembles that of an eye, rooting their name. Cat's eye are corals that have zooxanthellae present in their tissue which give the colour of brown and sometimes green as well. Their colour is known to depend on which species of the zooxanthellae is present in their tissue.
They gain most their energy from the algal cells in their body, but they stretch their tentacles in the night to feed on planktonic particles.
Phalguni Ranjan
( Anthopleura dixoniana )
Spotted in intertidal zones in rocky areas which are exposed to the atmosphere and sunlight when tides are low or moderate. You can find them in crevices, cracks and in sandy areas as well.
A small anemone with a diameter of only 1-2 cm. They have tentacles with a dotted and banded like pattern and hence deeming their name. The mouth and center is far larger than their tentacles and the entire body displays a brown or beige colour. They are just one individual polyp and do not form colonies, however they can be found forming groups with other individuals.
Feed on small crustaceans.