Porites furcata

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Characters: Colonies are compact branches with flattened tops. Corallites are deeply excavated. Tentacles are usually extended during the day. Colour: Uniform grey-brown. Similar species: See taxonomic note. Porites porites has thicker corallite walls and smaller pali, but these distinctions are minor. Habitat: Shallow to mid-slope reef environments. Abundance: Common.

Taxonomic note: Several Charlie Verons have considered Porites porites, P. divaricata and P. furcata to be different forms of the same species. Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Squires (1958), Roos (1971). Identification guides: Colin (1978), Humann (1993).