Never seen more Fungiidae disc corals than at Anilao.
Top R is the mushroom coral, Danafungia scruposa, known to eat jellyfish.
Below are Helmet Plate Corals in the genus Ctenactis, lower left being Rough Feather Coral C. echinata.
#Scleractinia #coralreef #coral #Fungiidae 20/25
Like Porites corals, these gorgeous specimens of Goniopora Flowerpot or Daisy corals are in the family Poritidae. Some at Anilao were perfectly spherical like great balls.
#anilao #Batangas #Luzon #Philippines #Scleractinia #Poritidae #corals #coralreef #coral #goniopora
19/25
Amazing that these massive Porites pore corals, beloved of Christmas tree worms, are same genus as Yellow Finger Coral (Porites cylindrica), LL.
Both are components of Anilao's wonderful reefscapes. #Batangas #Philippines #Scleractinia #Poritidae #corals #coralreef #coral
18/25
Top left is greater maze coral, Platygyra, another Merulid.
The others are all species of Lobophyllia, open brain corals, in the family Lobophylliidae. Fantastic range of colours.
#Anilao #Batangas #Luzon #Philippines #Scleractinia #Merulinidae #corals #coralreef #coral
17/25
What a varied family the Merulinidae is.
Top is Hedgehog Coral (Echinopora lamellosa) & the lower two from the genus Dipsastraea.
#Anilao #Batangas #Luzon #Philippines #Scleractinia #Merulinidae #coral #corals #coralreef 16/25
At top are more Acroporid branching Staghorn corals: Acropora millepora & Acropora tenuis.
Below, 2 v. different specimens of Crispy Crust Coral, Merulina ampliata, of family Merulinidae.
#Anilao #Batangas #Philippines #Scleractinia #acroporidae #coral #corals #coralreef 15/25
Here's 2 other genera of Anilao's Acroporid stony corals: Montipora pore corals, including the lovely cabbage corals on L & the pore coral Montipora hispida, TR.
LR is Isopora palifera.
#Batangas #Philippines #Scleractinia #acroporidae #coral #corals #coralreef #isopora 14/25
Hexacorals dominate the underwater landscape at Anilao, in particular the Hard Corals, Scleractinia, such as the Staghorn corals, Acroporidae including these great plate or table corals. #Batangas #Luzon #Philippines #Scleractinia #acroporidae #coral #corals #marinespecies 13/25
