Porites lutea? Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851

I'm not sure where to draw the line between Porites lobata and P. lutea, so the IDs on these photos are questionable. Both species form massive solid colonies that may be several meters in width, and both may occur in the same areas. It may require close examination of the corallites to properly distinguish them. It is a common species on lagoon and seaward reefs, and often forms microatolls on intertidal reefs (see samples under P. lobata). Color varies.

Some of the surrounding Goniopora coral has bleached out pure white due to warm water temperature. Porites lutea is a little more tolerant than this Goniopora, but it will still bleach in warmer water. Photos of Porites bleaching are on a separate page.

The colony below was a good 3m tall.

Created 20 April 2020

Return to Poritidae

Kwajalein Underwater Home