Pectinia paeonia
Dana, 1846
Description: Colonies never have extended valleys. Instead they form irregular clusters of fluted thin laminae with exsert costae forming upwardly projecting spires and short walls. Columellae are weakly developed. Septa are smooth or have small teeth.
Color: Uniform or mottled brown, grey or green.
Habitat: Turbid water habitats, especially on fringing reefs and in crevices on reef slopes.
Abundance: Common.
Similar Species: Pectinia alcicornis, which is distinguished by having more solid skeletal structures, tall spires, well developed columellae, and also by the strong teeth on the costae.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Veron and Pichon (1980). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A large colony consisting of mostly flat laminae, upright walls and spires. Ryukyu Islands, Japan Photograph: Charlie Veron
A colony consisting mostly of flat laminae. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Valerie Taylor
A colony with tightly compacted, highly folded, upright walls in shallow water. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Valerie Taylor
Skeletal detail. Showing corallites.