Platygyra contorta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Platygyra contorta | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Merulinidae |
| Genus: | Platygyra |
| Species: | P. contorta |
| Binomial name | |
| Platygyra contorta Veron, 1990 | |
Platygyra contorta is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It was described by John Veron in 1990. It is found at depths of 2 to 20 metres (7 to 66 ft) and its colonies are over 1 metre (3.3 ft) in diameter. It has been identified as a least-concern species.
Platygyra contorta is a colonial species found in columnar or encrusting structures. It is light yellow, green, grey, or red in colour, and it has thin walls. Its septa are non-uniform and its valleys are curved and short at the centre of colonies, becoming linear and long at the margins of colonies.[2] Colonies have diameters often exceeding 1 metre (3.3 ft).[1] Its valleys measure between 3.5 and 5 millimetres (0.14 and 0.20 in) in width.[3] The species has a similar appearance to Goniastrea deformis and Platygyra verweyi.[2]