Hard Corals [Scleractinia]
Description
Hard corals build the reef’s framework with calcium carbonate skeletons, creating the complex structure divers love to explore. Underwater, you’ll see everything from branching and boulder forms to massive domes, often covered in living polyps and teaming with fish and invertebrates.
Families
Stony Corals (Acroporidae)
Acroporidae
Lettuce & Lace Corals (Agariciidae)
Agariciidae
Cup Corals
Dendrophylliidae
Hammer & Frogspawn Corals (Euphylliidae)
Euphylliidae
Fan & Scallop Corals (Flabellidae)
Flabellidae
Pachyseris & Similar Plate Corals
Pachyseridae
Porous & Boulder Corals (Stony Corals)
Poritidae
Rhizangia Corals
Rhizangiidae
Starry Cup Corals
Astrocoeniidae
Cup Corals
Caryophylliidae
Stony Cup Corals
Cladocoridae
Disc Corals (Plate Corals)
Coscinaraeidae
Diploastrea Corals
Diploastraeidae
Brain & Honeycomb Corals
Faviidae
Mushroom Corals
Fungiidae
Leptastrea Corals (Small Massive Corals)
Leptastreidae
Lobophyllid & Brain Corals
Lobophylliidae
Meandrina & Maze Corals
Meandrinidae
Merulina & Sunken Ridge Corals
Merulinidae
Cup & Eyed Corals
Oculinidae
Plerogyra & Bubble Corals
Plerogyridae
Plesiastrea & Starry Corals
Plesiastreidae
Pocillopora & Cauliflower Corals
Pocilloporidae
Psammocora & Sand-Pattern Corals
Psammocoridae
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Cnidarians
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Hexacorallians
Hexacorallia
|
Statistics
- Families 24