Identify corals by shape
This pages lists the coral groups (taxa), included in this guide by the shape of the colony and links to their identification pages. Some groups have more than one colony shape so appear more than once in the list. This guide does not cover all corals and a list of publications which may help in identifying coral specimens can be found in the Further Information section
Branching (tree-like, bushy, bottle-brush-like, staghorn-like, fan shaped)
Columnar (column-like, finger-like)
Disc-shaped
| Mushroom corals | Genus Heliofungia | Order Scleractinia |
| Mushroom corals | Genus Fungia | Order Scleractinia |
Encrusting (forms a thin sheet covering rocks or other organisms)
| Finger, boulder & jewel corals | Genus Porites | Order Scleractinia |
| Fire corals | Genus Millepora | Family Milleporidae |
Flabello-meandroid
| Elegance coral | Catalaphyllia jardinei | Order Scleractinia |
| Anchor, grape and frogspawn corals | Genus Euphyllia | Order Scleractinia |
Ridge-like (forms vertical sheets)
| Blue coral | Heliopora coerulea | Order Coenothecalia |
| Fire corals | Genus Millepora | Family Milleporidae |
| Staghorn corals | Genus Acropora | Order Scleractinia |
Sub-massive/ Massive (rounded, dome-shaped, boulder-like)
Whip-like
Borneman, E.H. (2001) Aquarium corals; Selection,
Husbandry and Natural History. T.F.H. Publications. New Jersey, USA.
ISBN: 1-890087-47-5
Bruckner, A., (1998). Guide to Indo-Pacific Corals in International Trade.
Available Online (April 2002)
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR/coralidmanualfront.html
Cairns, S.D., (1983) A Generic revision of the Stylasteridae (Coelenterata:
Hydrozoa) Part 1. Description of the genera. Bulletin of Marine Science
33 (2): 427-508
Corrochano, V. R. (1996) Guía de identificatión de conchas y corales
includios en el convenio de Washington. Ministerio de Comercio y Turismo.
Spain ISBN: 84-7415-289-0
Oliver, J. K. (1986) Stony corals: Classes Hydrozoa and Anthozoa, In: CITES Identification manual, Gland, Switzerland.
Sheppard, C. R. C. (2002) Corals of the Indian Ocean. CD ROM
Veron, J.E.N, & Stafford-Smith, M. (2002) Coral ID. An electronic key to the zooxanthellate scleractinian corals of the world. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia CD ROM
Wood, E. M., (1983). Reef corals of the world: biology and field guide. TFH Publications, New Jersey, USA. ISBN: 0-876668-09-0