831 species

Catalaphyllia jardinei

(Saville-Kent, 1893)

Catalaphyllia

Wells, 1971

Characters: Colonies are flabello-meandroid with straight edged septa forming wide V-shaped valleys. Valleys are evenly spaced and have sharp edged walls. Septa are widely spaced. There are no columellae. Polyps have large tubular tentacles extending from large fleshy oral discs. Forms satellite colonies (like Goniopora stokesi) in aquaria.

Colour: Distinctive green with pink tentacle tips and a striped oral disc.

Similar Species: Flabello-meandroid Euphyllia are similar but have septa which steeply plunge at the valley centre and do not form V-shaped valleys.

Habitat: Occurs in protected, preferably turbid water.

Abundance: Seldom common but conspicuous. Rare in the western Indian Ocean.

COTW History since Veron (2000a)
  • Family: All families are currently under review
  • Genus/species: No change