Coral ID: The Rest
Coral Identification for Curacaoan coral species (under construction)
This set of pictures aims to show the differences between coral species that are often "mistaken" for one another. Because terminology to describe each species is often subjective (i.e. has larger polyps or smaller ridges) having both species in one picture might help to get a better idea of how such closely related/ similar looking "species" can be distinguished from one another. Be aware that for the purpose of this page, we use the "conversational species concept", which is simply intended to describe the variation that exists in morphological features of Caribbean corals around Curacao.
The Restidae
Porites astreoides (left) and Porites porites (right)
Porites astreoides (left) and Porites porites (right)
Porites astreoides (left) and Porites branneri (right)
Porites astreoides (left) and Porites branneri (right)
Two colourmorphs of Porites astreoides
Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (left) and Porites astreoides (right)
Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (left) and Porites astreoides (right)
Porites astreoides (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Siderastrea radians (left) and Siderastrea siderea (right)
Siderastrea radians (left) and Siderastrea siderea (right)
Siderastrea sidera (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Siderastrea sidera (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (left) and Siderastrea sidera (right)
Agaricia agaricites (left) and Siderastrea sidera (right)
Two colormorphs of Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii
Madracis pharensis (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Madracis pharensis (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Madracis pharensis (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Madracis senaria (left) and Stephanocoenia intersepta/ michelinii (right)
Porites astreoides (left) and Madracis pharensis (right)
Madracis mirabilis (left) and Madracis decactis (right)
Madracis carmabi (left) and Madracis decactis (right)
Madracis decactis (left) and Madracis carmabi (right)
Madracis pharensis (left) and Madracis senaria (right)
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Madracis senaria (left) and Madracis pharensis (right)
Eusmilia fastigiata (left) and Meandrina meandrites (right)