831 species

Porites hawaiiensis

Vaughan, 1907

Porites

Link, 1807

Characters: Colonies are small (<100 mm diameter), encrusting. Corallites are small (<0.7 mm diameter), not moderately space, and have the same septal configuration as P. rus. The consteum is covered with distinctive spinules.

Colour: Mottled yellow and green-brown.

Similar Species: Porites rus has very similar corallites which are more widely spaced, lacks conspicuous coenosteum spinules, and forms large colonies.

Habitat: Reef habitats.

Abundance: Common.

Taxonomic Note: Cryptic species.

COTW History since Veron (2000a)
  • Family: All families are currently under review
  • Genus/species: Newly accepted species. New fieldwork and skeletal samples have led to the distinction of this taxon from similar species