Stylophora Pistillata
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Cnidaria
Class- Anthozoa
Order- Scleractinia
Family- Pocilloporidae
Genus- Stylophora

Struture and texture: These corals branch out from its base. The branches have a blunt end and are thick and sturdy. It’s tiny polyps are found on the branches, making the branch grainy.

Colour and shape: It’s more commonly found in pink, but cream, blue, purple and green have also been sighted. The coral’s corallites are either immersed, conical or hooded.

Growth: This coral has a rapid growth rate and rapid recruitment rate. This is because the coral produces lots of larvae and the larvae attaches itself to any passing object underwater. Hence, it gets to travel a far distance easily and fast, building new colonies. It also has a high rate of regeneration.

Function: The Stylophora is a main reef builder. Not only is it fast growing and rich with food, but it is also a hard coral. Hence, it houses many underwater creatures.

Relationship: It plays the role of a substrate and other organisms ten to attach themselves to the coral. Thus, it houses the gall crabs, trapezia crabs, boring clams, date mussles, barnacles, Christmas tree worms and the damsel fish. It practices mutualism with the boring clam as it provides fresh, oxygenated water to the coral.

Reproduction: A hermaphrodite, it has both male and female gonads. However, the younger colonies are normally females. The eggs are formed in the polyp and fertilised by a sperm to, then, release a free-swimming larvae. The larvae is normally released after sunset.

Distribution: Large amount of sunlight, semi-aggressive temperatures and fast moving water is apt. They are dominant on exposed reef fronts where it is shallow. They are also easily found at lagoons, rear-reefs, reef-flats and fore-reefs.

Water movement: Strong wave action with turbulent water flow, perfect for the Stylophora.