The Acroporidae family includes 2 of our favourite hard corals – Staghorn and Table Corals, from the genus Acropora (check Wikipedia link). We have made the division based on approximate growth forms, although some Acroporas can fit into either category!
The family also contains the Alveopora more Anemone Corals and the less noticeable Astreopora and Montipora Corals – all of which have very different growth forms.
These species all share an appearance not unlike a table, albeit sometimes with multiple layers... (4 Galleries).
Can look similar to the Goniopora Anemone Corals but they have 12 rather than 24 tentacles.
4 Photos
Another so called Star Coral. They have a much larger corallum than the Montipora Corals.
12 Photos
The genus Montipora has the second greatest number of species occurring within the hard corals, but generally they are neither distinctive nor easy to identify...
24 Photos
Phangan Marine Life
