Poritidae

Common Names

Poritid corals are commonly known as "porous corals," "finger corals," or "branching corals," depending on their morphology.

Characteristics

Poritid corals possess several key characteristics that distinguish them from other coral families. These include:

• Porous skeleton: The most distinctive feature of Poritidae is their porous skeleton, which is composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and has numerous small holes or pores. This porosity helps to increase the surface area of the coral, which allows for more efficient water flow and nutrient exchange.
• Colonial growth: Poritid corals are colonial organisms, meaning they are composed of many individual polyps that are connected by a common tissue. These polyps can be small and numerous, or large and few, depending on the species.
• Variety of growth forms: Poritid corals exhibit a wide range of growth forms, from massive and encrusting colonies to branching and columnar forms.
• Symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae: Like many other corals, Poritidae host symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae within their tissues. These algae provide the coral with energy through photosynthesis, while the coral provides the algae with a protected environment and essential nutrients.

Environments

Poritid corals are found in a variety of shallow water marine environments, including:

• Reefs: Poritidae are important reef builders, contributing significantly to the structure and diversity of coral reefs worldwide.
• Lagoons: Poritid corals can also be found in sheltered lagoons, where they may be exposed to lower light levels and higher sedimentation rates.
• Seaward slopes: Some species of Poritid corals can tolerate higher wave action and are found on the seaward slopes of reefs.

References

For further information on the Poritidae family, you can refer to these reliable sources:

• World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
• PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information)
• Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)