WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Hammerhead Coral

Fimbriaphyllia paraancora

Also known as: Anchor Coral, Branching Anchor Coral, Branching Bicolor Hammer Coral, Branching Frogspawn Coral, Branching Hammer Coral, Frogspawn Coral, Hammer Coral, Hammer Euphyllia, Euphyllia paraancora

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@blogie · San Juan Reef Dive Site, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · January 20121 / 1
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Overview

Found on protected coral and rocky reefs, in both shallow and deeper waters. Colours vary green, brown, with a paler edge, resembles a bean shape. Uncommon.

Stony corals have hard stony skeletons, their polyps have six tentacles or are made up of multiples of six. These are usually nocturnal, however if the sky's are overcast, then many will feed during the day.
Generally the more robust corals life on exposed areas, while the smaller corals live in sheltered lagoons or deeper waters.
Stony corals are reef building corals and embedded in their flesh are thousands of minute single-celled marine plants called zooxanthellae which accounts for their colour.
These corals support a huge diversity of life, their main predator being the crown-of-thorns sea star.

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How to identify

Body shape
bean shaped

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found on protected coral and rocky reefs, in both shallow and deeper waters.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumCnidaria
    3. classHexacorallia
    4. orderScleractinia
    5. familyEuphylliidae
    6. genusFimbriaphyllia
    7. speciesFimbriaphyllia paraancora (Veron, 1990)

    SourcesWoRMSSeaLifeBase

    06

    More in the family

    Scleractinia