Grey Pillar Coral [Plesiastrea versipora]
Description
Plesiastrea versipora, commonly known as Grey Pillar Coral, is a species of hard, stony corals in the family Plesiastreidae. It is a colonial coral, forming rounded or irregularly-shaped, flat-topped colonies, with corallites (the individual units of the colony) that are well-separated and have a unique, cerioid arrangement. The colonies are often found in a variety of reef habitats, including reef flats, slopes, and lagoons. They have a wide distribution, found in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific Ocean. Plesiastrea versipora is a zooxanthellate species, meaning it has a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae, which provide nutrients to the coral.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
Stony Corals
Scleractinia
|
| Family |
Merulinidae
Merulinidae
|
| Genus |
Plesiastrea
Plesiastrea
|