Cactus Coral [Pavona]

Cactus Coral
Description

Cactus coral forms knobby, branching mounds with short, finger-like projections that give it a spiky, “cactus” silhouette. Divers often see it in clusters on reef flats and slopes, where its structure provides nooks for small crabs, shrimp, and hiding fish.

Species
Cactus Coral
Cactus Coral

Pavona cactus

Variable Coral
Variable Coral

Pavona varians

Clavus Coral
Clavus Coral

Pavona clavus

Fringing Coral
Fringing Coral

Pavona frondifera

Decussata Coral
Decussata Coral

Pavona decussata

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona bipartita

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona chiriquiensis

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona danai

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona diffluens

Pavona diminuta

Pavona diminuta

Pavona distincta

Pavona distincta

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona divaricata

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona duerdeni

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona explanulata

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona giannii

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona gigantea

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona maldivensis

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona minor

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona minuta

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona venosa

Leaf Coral
Leaf Coral

Pavona xarifae

Taxonomy
Phylum Cnidarians
Cnidaria
Class Hexacorallians
Hexacorallia
Order Hard Corals
Scleractinia
Family Lettuce & Lace Corals (Agariciidae)
Agariciidae
Statistics
  • Species 21