831 species

Euphyllia glabrescens

(Chamisso and Eysenhardt, 1821)

Euphyllia

Dana, 1846

Characters: Colonies are phaceloid; corallites are 20-30 millimetres diameter and 15-30 millimetres apart. Walls are thin, with sharp edges. Septa are not exsert; first and second order septa plunge steeply near the centre of the corallite. There are no columellae. Polyps have large tubular tentacles with knob-like tips.

Colour: Grey-blue to grey-green with cream, green, pink or white tips to the tentacles.

Similar Species: Euphyllia cristata, which has much more compact corallites with more exsert primary septa. See also Euphyllia paraglabrescens where the skeleton is almost identical. Heliofungia actiniformis has larger tentacles of similar appearance.

Habitat: A wide range of reef environments.

Abundance: Uncommon but conspicuous, rare in the Red Sea.

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