Lesser Valley Coral

zooxanthellate

This is a fully meandroid species. The series have unperforated, broad walls, which are broader than the valley floor. Septa are regular, and are all equal in size, or nearly so. The valley floor in most specimens from the Arabian region Sea is flat, smooth and solid. Septa emerge from this solid floor. In parts of the coralla, trabecular elements emerge from these to form the kind of columella usually associated with all species of the genus. This valley floor is distinctly different to those of P. lamellina seen from further east, which are more typical of the genus. Platygyra lamellina is not common, though it is widespread. It prefers shallow water on fore-reef slopes and, because it forms large colonies, it is usually conspicuous. (Sheppard, 1998 ) Colonies are massive, meandroid, with thick walls. Septa are uniformly exsert and are neat and rounded. Colour: usually brown or with brown walls and grey or green valleys. Abundance: usually uncommon. (Veron, 1986 )