Greater brain coral

Appearance

Colonies are hemispherical to flat. Valleys average 20-25 millimetres wide, and are irregularly meandroid, becoming straight in flat colonies. Walls have a moderately thick fleshy appearance and usually have a groove along the top.

Colour: A wide range of red, grey and green, with valleys and walls usually of contrasting colours. Red Sea colonies are usually cream.

Similar Species: Symphyllia radians has valleys and septa intermediate in size between the smaller S. recta and the larger S. agaricia. S. recta has more sinuous valleys, S. agaricia has a double row of columellae.

Naming

Orig. name
Symphyllia radians Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849
Synonymised names
Mussa crispa Dana, 1846 (synonym)
Symphyllia grandis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 (synonym)
Symphyllia radians Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849
Environment

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Melanesia, north to Japan and south to Australia.

Habitat

Upper reef slopes and fringing reefs.