Goniastrea edwardsi
Chevalier, 1971
Description: Colonies are massive, hemispherical or columnar and often over one metre across. Corallites are only slightly angular, with thick rounded walls. Septa are irregular in length and taper from the wall to the columellae, which are small. Paliform lobes are thick.
Color: Uniform cream or brown, occasionally with orange centres.
Habitat: Mostly shallow subtidal communities.
Abundance: Common.
Similar Species: Goniastrea retiformis. See also G. aspera, which has larger corallites.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Veron, Pichon and Wijsman-Best (1977). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A massive colony in shallow water. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell
Showing common corallite shape and colour. Bolinao, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Showing corallites.