Leptoseris papyracea
Dana, 1846
Description: Colonies are delicate, unifacial, contorted, irregularly divided fronds, each frond having just a few corallites. Tentacles are sometimes extended during the day.
Color: Pale brown upper surface. Pale brown or white undersurface.
Habitat: Usually restricted to inter-reef areas on soft horizontal substrates where there is little sediment movement, but occasionally occurs in shallow habitats between the branches of other corals.
Abundance: Usually uncommon but may be a dominant species.
Similar Species: Leptoseris gardineri, Swhich is substantially larger and coarser and has fronds containing many corallites.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Wells (1954), Dinesen (1980), Veron and Pichon (1980). Identification guides: Maragos (1977), Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A delicate prostrate colony. Caroline Islands, Micronesia Photograph: Pat Colin
Showing both upper and lower surfaces of twisted fronds. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Showing corallites.
Smooth flat fronds. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron