Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 1

Mound and Boulder Corals

© K. Marks

© K. Marks © K. Marks

Judith Lang and Kenneth Marks

Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program
Revision: 2013-05-22 www.agrra.org
 The following images are Copyright ©
by New World Publications
and by other photographers.

Permission is granted to use the photographs

and slides in this presentation with the
AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for
other valid educational purposes..
All other uses are strictly prohibited.

For images used in Part 1, our special thanks to:

B. Beck, I. Drysdale, B. Grayson, P. Humann, J. Miller,
C. Rogers, C. Sheppard, J. Shulke, E. Shinn, R. Steneck, T. Turner
 Stony Corals
expanded polyps
Stony corals have soft
polyps above a stony
(calcareous) skeleton.
Most reef-building corals
form colonies of
interconnected polyps. © C. Sheppard

partially contracted polyps

The shapes, sizes and
colour of the polyps and
colonies are used to help
identify corals.
© C. Sheppard
 Coral Skeletons
separated polyp walls connected polyp walls
The shapes
and sizes of
polyps are also
long ridges
visible in their round
and valleys
underlying
skeletons.
© G. Shinn © G. Shinn

Septa are separated + connected polyp walls

conspicuous
vertical partitions
in the polyp wall. elliptical & short, reticulated
Y-shaped ridges & valleys

© G. Shinn © G. Shinn
 What to Look for Underwater

Colony shape – massive (= mound, columnar,

heavy plates), crust, plate, branching
Colony size range – small to big
Colony surface – bumpy, smooth, ridged
Polyp size – small to big
Polyp shape – round, elliptical, irregular, Y-shaped
Polyp colour – brown, tan, yellow, olive, green, red
Septal shape – fat, thin; smooth, toothed
Adapted from P.R. Kramer
 AGRRA Coral Species
The stony corals illustrated here are limited to
species found in the wider Caribbean at depths
(<20 m) typical of most AGRRA surveys.
The names of some of these corals are changing as a
result of modern research. More taxa are added as we
gain underwater photographs of species that are rare
and/or of geographically limited distributions. Expect
periodic updates!
Photographers who can enhance this collection are encouraged
to contact Judy Lang at: [email protected] or [email protected]

For each species: (# in m and ft) = maximum colony size

 Coding Corals in AGRRA Surveys

Use the CARICOMP-based coral codes.

The coral code for a genus (or occasionally a species
complex) is the first 4 letters of its genus name and
should be used whenever you are unsure of a coral’s
species identity: ORBI = Orbicella
The coral code for a species is the first letter of the
genus name followed by the first 3 letters of its species
name: OFAV = Orbicella faveolata
Codes are shown before names appear on the introductory slide
for species that are commonly recorded in AGRRA surveys.
The Montastraea annularis complex
of species (annularis, faveolata,
franksi) has been reclassified as
the Orbicella annularis complex
on the basis of recent molecular
and morphological analyses.
Montastraea cavernosa retains this
genus name. See Budd et al., 2012
(reference given on final slide).
 Orbicella faveolata OFAV
small, round polyps with exsert Close-up
OFAV
walls (= protruding “outies”) in
mounds with “skirted” (platy)
edges, or thick plates
greens, browns, grey; may
fluoresce © K. Marks

can grow very tall and/or wide

(to ~ 4-5 m/12-15 ft)
OFAV

OFAV

© C. Rogers © K. Marks
 Orbicella faveolata OFAV
surfaces smooth, shallow/high light
ridged or with
bumps aligned in
vertical rows © B. Grayson

colonies flatten in shade or deeper water

deep/low light

© K. Marks © R. Steneck
 Orbicella annularis OANN
small, round, exsert polyps are
alive at the tops of columns OANN
thick plates at colony sides or
bases under low light conditions
light brown or yellow-brown
large colonies (to ~ 3-4 m/9-12 ft)
© K. Marks

OANN

© R. Steneck
 Orbicella annularis OANN
columns may topple and scatter during storms
if their bases are narrowed by bioerosion

© C. Sheppard
 Orbicella annularis OANN

How differs from

O. faveolata:
subdivides to form
columns, with basal
plates under low light
conditions
live polyps on well-
illuminated column tops
lack a skirt-like edge
lighter tissue colours © K. Marks
 Orbicella franksi OFRA

irregular bumps with large,

exsert polyps that are pale
OFRA
or lack zooxanthellae (can
see skeleton below)
large polyps along colony
margin © P. Humann

irregular mounds, crusts or

thick plates
(to ~ 3-4 m/9-12 ft)
aggressive spatial competitor
© K. Marks
 Orbicella franksi OFRA
shallow/high light: deep/low light:
irregularly shaped mounds thick, lumpy plates

© K. Marks

© T. Turner
 Orbicella franksi OFRA

How similar to O. faveolata:

have bumps on large
mounds, crusts or thick plates
How differs:
larger polyps overall
polyps on bumps are even
bigger, irregularly shaped,
and often lack zooxanthellae
more aggressive as a spatial
competitor © K. Marks
 Orbicella franksi OFRA
How similar to O. annularis:
can form large columns or
thick plates
How differs:
enlarged polyps in irregular
bumps can lack zooxanthellae
polyps along growing margins
are enlarged
more aggressive as a spatial
competitor

© R. Steneck
 Which is Which?

© K. Marks
© K. Marks
© K. Marks

O. annularis O. franksi O. faveolata

OANN OFRA OFAV
 Complications!
Some colonies look like “intermediates” of
O. franksi, O. annularis and O. faveolata.
If unsure of species identity, code as:
Orbicella ORBI
“In general, the genetic and morphological data suggest
a north to south* hybridization gradient, with evidence
for introgression strongest in the north. However,
reproductive data show no such trend, with intrinsic
barriers to gene flow comparable or stronger in the
north.” See Fukami et al., 2004 (reference given on final slide).
*north to south = Bahamas versus Panama
 Solenastrea bournoni SBOU
polyps separated by a
smooth inter-polyp surface
SBOU
cream to light brown;
polyps are slightly darker
than the inter-polyp spaces
smooth or irregularly
shaped mounds
(usually to ~ 50 cm/20 in) © K. Marks

SBOU SBOU
SBOU

1m!

© K. Marks © K. Marks
 Solenastrea bournoni SBOU
How differs from O. franksi:
smooth inter-polyp surfaces
bumps on mounds lack enlarged,
colourless polyps
lighter colours with distinctly darker
polyp centers
smaller colonies © K. Marks

when fully grown

© K. Marks
 Which is Which?

© K. Marks © K. Marks

O. franksi S. bournoni
OFRA SBOU
 Solenastrea hyades SHYA
How similar to S. bournoni:
light colours
polyps with distinct walls SHYA
(to ~ 60 cm/2 ft)
How differs:
larger polyps
irregular lobes above
an encrusting base

© P. Humann
 Montastraea cavernosa MCAV
large, round, exsert polyps Close-up

brown, yellow-brown, green or grey;

sometimes fluorescent colours
MCAV
(to ~ 3 m/9 ft)

MCAV
© K. Marks

Close-up
MCAV
MCAV
MCAV
MCAV
MCAV
MCAV

MCAV
© J. Miller © K. Marks
 Montastraea cavernosa MCAV
shallow/high light: mounds or columns

© K. Marks

© K. Marks © K. Marks
 Montastraea cavernosa MCAV
deep/low light: flattened,
massive plates or crusts

© K. Marks

© T. Turner © K. Marks
 Montastraea cavernosa MCAV
Fluorescent proteins in the
polyps produce the greenish or
orange-red fluorescence that is
sometimes seen under natural
illumination, especially at depths
> 3m/10 ft (see Oswald et al., 2007,
reference given on final slide).
© K. Marks

© B. Grayson

natural light strobe light

 Dichocoenia stokesi DSTO
very exsert, round, elliptical, Close-up
elongate, or Y-shaped polyps
DSTO
cream, yellow, or brown
mounds or irregular shapes
(to 50 cm/18 in)

DSTO

© K. Marks © K. Marks
 Dichocoenia stokesi DSTO
How differs from M. cavernosa:
polyps are much more variable
in shape
septa on vertical (not sloping)
walls are more distinct
lighter colours
© K. Marks
fully grown colonies
Close-up
are smaller

© K. Marks
 Dichocoenia DICH
Colonies with flattened plates, and
many smaller round polyps, have been
called Dichocoenia stellaris.
Their identity, and that of columnar or
irregularly shaped “intermediates” with
flattened bases, is unclear.
© K. Marks

© K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks

 What are These?

© K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks © B. Beck

These are all called:

D. stokesi
DSTO!
 Favia fragum FFRA
somewhat exsert, round-
elongated polyps (some
FFRA
Y-shaped)
FFRA
septa have small teeth
(see next slide)
pale yellow to brown © K. Marks

small mounds FFRA FFRA

(usually to ~ 10 cm/4 in)

© K. Marks
 Favia fragum FFRA

How similar to D. stokesi:

exsert, round-elongated
polyps, some are Y-shaped
similar colours
How differs:
polyp walls protrude far less
polyps are less separate
septa with teeth on summits
and inner sides
fully grown colonies are
smaller © K. Marks
 Which is Which?

© K. Marks © K. Marks

D. stokesi M. cavernosa F. fragum

DSTO MCAV FRA
 Siderastrea siderea SSID
small, sunken polyps
(“innies”) with very SSID
thin septa
uniform colours: grey,
yellow-brown to brown
rounded mounds
(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)

SSID

© K. Marks

© J. Shulke
 Siderastrea siderea SSID
some pale or bleached
colonies are fluorescent

smaller colonies may be encrusting

© K. Marks

© K. Marks
 Siderastrea radians SRAD

sunken “pinched” Close-up

polyps (“innies”) with SRAD
thick septa
pale polyp walls,
centers dark
crusts, low mounds
or unattached
nodules
small (to ~ 30 cm/12 in)

© K. Marks
 Siderastrea radians SRAD
How differs from S. siderea:
septa are fewer and thicker
“pinched” polyps, some elongate,
and with darker centers
fully grown colonies are smaller
and flatter
© K. Marks

© K. Marks
 Which is Which?
Close-up

© P. Humann

S. siderea S. radians
SSID SRAD
 Which is Which?

Close-up

© K Marks © K Marks

S. radians S. siderea
SRAD SSID
 Stephanocoenia intersepta SINT
round, sunken polyps (“innies)
SINT
with thick septa
brown colour is most intense
in polyp centers; appear
to “blush” when polyps
contract © K. Marks

thick crusts, irregular SINT

mounds
(to ~ 1 m/3 ft)

© K. Marks
 Stephanocoenia intersepta SINT
How similar to
Solenastrea bournoni:
small, round polyps with light
brownish colours that are most
intense in polyp centers
How differs:
sunken (not protruding) polyps
crusts and low mounds have
relatively smooth surfaces
without large bumps © K. Marks

© K. Marks
 Stephanocoenia intersepta SINT

How similar to
Siderastrea radians:
sunken polyps with dark
polyp centers
How differs:
“blushes” when tissues
contract
no “pinched” polyps
larger crusts and mounds
when fully grown © K. Marks
 Which is Which?

© K. Marks

© K. Marks

S. intersepta S. radians S. bournoni

SINT SRAD SBOU
 Porites astreoides PAST
tall, thin polyps look Close-up
PAST
“fuzzy” when expanded
“lumpy” mounds or plates
© C. Sheppard
“unusual” shape or colour
combinations can occur
PAST
even within a single coral!
PAST
(to ~ 1 m/3 ft)

© I. Drysdale
© K. Marks
PAST © K. Marks

PAST

© K. Marks © K. Marks
 Porites astreoides PAST
shallow: usually lumpy mounds
and yellow, yellow-green or olive

deep: usually thick crusts, lumpy

or flattened plates and grey or © K. Marks
brown

© C. Sheppard © K. Marks
 References

Budd, A.F., H. Fukami, N.D. Smith and N. Knowlton. 2012. Taxonomic classification
of the reef coral family Mussidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Zoolgoical
Journal of the Linnean Society 166: 465-529.

Fukami, H., A.F. Budd, D.R. Levitan, J. Jara, R. Kersanach, and N. Knowlton. 2004.
Geographic differences in species boundaries among members of the Montastraea
annularis complex based on molecular and morphological markers. Evolution 58:
324-337.

Oswald, F., F. Schmitt, A. Leutenegger, S. Ivanchenko, C. D’Angelo, A. Salih, S.

Maslakova, M. Bulina, R. Schirmbeck, G. Nienhaus, M. Matz and J. Wiedenmann.
2007. Contributions of hosts and symbionts pigments to the coloration of reef corals.
FEBS Journal 274: 1102-1109.