Grooved
brain coral
Symphyllia sp.*
Family Lobophylliidae
updated
Nov 2019
Where
seen? This fleshy dome-shaped hard coral that resembles a brain is often
seen on many of our Southern shores.
Features: Colonies seen about
15-20cm, sometimes larger, hemispherical and rather flat. Walls are
thick with prominent 'teeth', forming brain-like patterns with wide
valleys (2-3cm wide). There is usually a slight dent or groove along
the top of the wall. When submerged, the skeleton is covered with
thick, fleshy tissue. The tentacles are usually only seen at night,
and are numerous, short, slender with bulbous tips. Colours seen include
brown, blue and green, often with contrasting coloured walls and valleys.
Many seen had striking white portions.
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With tentacles extended.
Pulau Hantu, Apr 06
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With tentacles
retracted. |
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With tentacles
retracted, groove at
the top of the walls.
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Tanah Merah,
Apr 12
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.
Tanah Merah,
Jun 12
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Cyrene Reef,
May 08
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Sisters Island,
Jul 04
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Pulau Hantu,
Apr 06
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Raffles Lighthouse,
Jul 06
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Pulau Semakau,
Oct 11
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Pulau Hantu,
Jul 07
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Sisters Island,
Aug 08
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*Species are difficult
to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of
display.
Grooved
brain corals on Singapore shores |
Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Terumbu Pempang
Darat, Jun 10
Photo
shared by James Koh on his
blog. |
Tanah Merah,
May 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his
blog |
Terumbu Semakau, May 10
Photo shared by James Koh on his
blog. |
Tanah Merah,
Jun 10
Photo shared
by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
Tanah Merah,
May 13
Photo shared
by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
East Coast Park Big Splash, May 15
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.
|
Pulau Pawai,
Dec 09
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Terumbu Berkas,
Jan 10
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Terumbu Berkas,
Jan 10
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Pulau Senang,
Jun 10
Bleaching. |
Pulau Senang,
Jun 10
|
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Bleaching.
Pulau Berkas, May 10 |
Bleaching.
Pulau Salu, Jun 10 |
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Symphyllia
species recorded for Singapore
from Danwei
Huang, Karenne P. P. Tun, L. M Chou and Peter A. Todd. 30 Dec 2009.
An inventory of zooxanthellate sclerectinian corals in Singapore including
33 new records
**the species found on many shores in Danwei's
paper.
in red are those listed as threatened
on the IUCN global list.
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Symphyllia agaricia
Symphyllia radians**
Symphyllia recta**
Symphyllia valenciennesii |
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Links
References
- Danwei Huang,
Karenne P. P. Tun, L. M Chou and Peter A. Todd. 30 Dec 2009. An
inventory of zooxanthellate sclerectinian corals in Singapore
including 33 new records (pdf). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
Supplement No. 22: 69-80.
- Veron, Jen.
2000. Corals
of the World
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australia. 3 volumes.
- Chou, L.
M., 1998. A
Guide to the Coral Reef Life of Singapore. Singapore Science
Centre. 128 pages.
- Erhardt,
Harry and Daniel Knop. 2005. Corals:
Indo-Pacific Field Guide
IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 305 pp.
- Borneman,
Eric H. 2001. Aquarium
Corals: Selection, Husbandry and Natural History
T.F. H Publications. 464 pp
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