Lichen Coral – Porites lichen

, Lichen Coral, Porites lichen
Depth: 0 - 75 m

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Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

The Lichen Coral – Porites lichen is a species of stony coral that belongs to the family Poritidae. This coral is notable for its unique appearance and its adaptability to a wide range of marine environments.

Description & Characteristics

Porites lichen exhibits a distinctive morphology, characterized by its massive, encrusting growth form. It often develops into large colonies, sometimes exceeding 1 meter in diameter, with a rough, knobby surface texture. The color of this coral species can vary, ranging from pale beige to brownish-grey.

Habitat and Occurrence

Lichen Coral (Porites lichen) is a resilient species that thrives in a variety of marine habitats, including the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones. This means it can be found from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge, which typically lies around 200 meters in depth. In terms of marine zones, it is considered a neritic species, inhabiting the shallow waters over the continental shelf. This adaptability has contributed to its widespread distribution across tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Taxonomy

Porites lichen, like all stony corals, belongs to the class Hexacorallia, characterized by their six-fold symmetry. It is further classified under the Order Scleractinia, which encompasses all true reef-building corals. This coral species is a member of the Family Poritidae, a family renowned for its robust, massive coral colonies.

Feeding

Porites lichen, like many other corals, relies on a dual feeding strategy. It captures small plankton organisms from the surrounding water using its tentacles. This is complemented by a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. These algae reside within the coral’s tissues and photosynthesize, providing the coral with a significant portion of its energy requirements. This symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae makes it dependent on sunlight for optimal growth, further reinforcing its presence in shallower, sun-lit areas of the ocean.

Associated Species

Image References

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