Symphyllia valenciennesii
Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849
Description: Colonies are usually flat. Valleys radiate from a flat central area and have steep sides and flat floors. Walls have a moderately fleshy appearance and usually have a groove along the top. Septa are thick, with large teeth. Polyps may be fleshy.
Color: Usually grey, brown or mottled, with valley floors and walls of contrasting colours.
Habitat: Lower reef slopes protected from wave action and rocky foreshores of subtropical locations.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Similar Species: Symphyllia agaricia, which may have valleys of similar size but these are not flat. See also Lobophyllia hataii, which is composed primarily of valleys rather than a flat central area. Lobophyllia flabelliformis also has large fleshy polyps.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Chevalier (1975), Veron and Pichon (1980). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A small colony. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
Colonies are flat plates with a broad central area from which walls radiate. Mouths are clearly visible only if they have a distinctive colour. Bali, Indonesia Photograph: Neville Coleman
A particularly colourful colony. Halmahera Sea, Indonesia Photograph: Gerry Allen
Skeletal detail. Showing valleys.