Cyphastrea ocellina

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Characters: Colonies are massive or encrusting, with an undulating surface. Corallites are less than 3 millimetres diameter and tightly compacted. Septa are in two unequal orders of 12 each and sometimes have a third order. Paliform lobes are small or absent. The coenosteum is covered with short spinules. Colour: Pale greenish-yellow or dark green. Similar species: Cyphastrea japonica, which forms less massive colonies, commonly has ‘groove and tubercle’ formations and has two very unequal orders of septo-costae. Habitat: Upper reef slopes. Abundance: Rare.

Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Wijsman-Best (1980). Identification guides: Maragos (1977), Nishihira and Veron (1995).