Plerogyra discus

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Characters: Colonies are flabello-meandroid with valleys completely separated. Sometimes living parts of colonies are separated by dead basal parts. Valleys are approximately 20 millimetres wide and divide infrequently. Primary septa are approximately 10 millimetres exsert and are rounded in shape. They plunge steeply within the valleys and do not form columellae. Polyps have mantles up to 50 millimetres wide which obscure the underlying septa. These mantles have elongate vesicles which vary greatly in degree of inflation. Colour: Grey, usually with vesicles darker than mantles. Similar species: Nemenzophyllia turbida, which has smaller but otherwise almost identical polyp mantles. Skeletal characters are distinctive, with N. turbida lacking exsert septa and having smaller valleys with a central columella wall. Plerogyra sinuosa has similar although much larger and more exsert septa. These distinctions require verification. Habitat: Lower protected reef slopes. Abundance: Uncommon.

Taxonomic note: See ‘New species described in Corals of the World’ (Veron, in preparation) for further information. Source reference: Veron (2000).