Mustard hill coral
Porites astreoides
Lamarck, 1816
Description:
Colonies plate-like in shallow, surging water, but forming rounded heads and domes in deeper water. The surface is lumpy and covered with closely set corallites, giving the colonies a porous appearance. Colonies up to 60 cm.
Color:
Most commonly yellow to yellow-green or yellow-brown, occasionally beige to gray. Polyps usually extended, giving the colonies a soft, fuzzy appearance.
Corallites:
Corallites 1.2-1.4 mm in diameter, with 12 septa, evenly spaced over the surface. The columella is trabecular.
Habitat:
Inhabit all reef environments, down to 50 m.
Distribution:
Abundant to common Forida, Bahamas and Caribbean.