ReefBlitz Common Marine Species
This is a guide to the common marine species found around Cannonvale Beach, compiled from data from the Atlas of Living Australia for ReefBlitz 2014
Bubble Coral
Plerogyra sinuosa is a species of "bubble coral". It has grape-sized bubbles which increase their surface area according to the amount of light available: they are larger during the day, but smaller during the night, when tentacles reach out to capture food. This species requires low light and a gentle water flow. Common names for Plerogyra sinuosa include "grape coral", ...more ↓
Table, Elkhorn, and Staghorn Corals
Acropora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the Phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described.Acropora is one of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef.
Favia
Favia is a genus of reef building stony corals in the family Faviidae. Members of the genus are massive or thickly encrusting colonial corals, either dome-shaped or flat, and a few are foliaceous. There is a great diversity of form even among individuals of the same species. The corallites project slightly above the surface of the coral and each has its own wall. In most ...more ↓
Fungia
Fungia is a genus of mushroom, disc or plate corals in the family Fungiidae. Members of the genus are found growing on reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
Whitetail Stingray
The mangrove whipray or whitetail stingray (Himantura granulata) is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea to northern Australia and Micronesia. A benthic inhabitant of shallow inshore waters, juvenile mangrove whiprays favor mangrove and estuarine habitats, while adults favor sandy to rocky ...more ↓
Montipora
Montipora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Depending on the species and location, Montipora may grow as plates or ridges, appearing to some as a bowl or flower. Undisturbed, the plates expand radially and may encrust over surrounding rocks, shells or debris. These corals are extremely common on reefs in the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean ...more ↓
Cynarina
Cynarina is a genus of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It is monotypic and the only species in the genus is Cynarina lacrymalis. It is variously known as the flat cup coral, the solitary cup coral, the button, doughnut or cat's eye coral. It is found in the western Indo-Pacific Ocean and is sometimes kept in reef aquaria.
Pocilloporidae
Pocilloporidae is a family of stony corals in the order Scleractinia occurring in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Arachnoides placenta
Arachnoides placenta is a species of sea urchin of the family Clypeasteridae. Their armour is covered with spines. It is placed in the genus Arachnoides and lives in the sea. Arachnoides placenta was first scientifically described in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus.
Acanthastrea
Acanthastrea is a genus of large polyp stony corals. The colonies are massive and usually flat. The corallites are either circular or angular in shape. The septae are thick near the wall of the corallite, becoming thin near the columella, and have tall teeth. The polyps are extended only at night.
Scoly Corals
Scolymia, commonly called Scoly coral, is a genus of large polyp stony corals. Members of this genus are sometimes found in reef aquariums.
