Lesser Valley Coral

Characters: Colonies are massive or flat and usually fully meandroid, with thin walls. Septa are thin and slightly exsert. Columellae are weakly developed and there are no columella centres. Colour: A variety of dull or bright colours. Similar species: Platygyra ryukyuensis. Resembles Goniastrea favulus underwater. Habitat: Most reef environments, especially back reef margins. Abundance: Usually uncommon. Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Wijsman-Best (1972), Chevalier (1975), Veron, Pichon and Wijsman-Best (1977). Additional identification guides: Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995).