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Dipsastraea favus
Dipsastraea favus (Forskål, 1775)
Head coral
Dipsastraea favus
photo by FAO

Family:  Merulinidae ()
Max. size: 
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific. Tropical to subtropical.
Diagnosis:  The head coral is one of the numerous species so-called due to their rounded massive shape, similar to a human head. Corallites are evenly distributed, plocoid, exsert, circular or slightly oval, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, and usually separated from each other by a few millimeters. Colonies grow to about 1 m diameter and are found at all depths (Ref. 269). Color varies from grey-green, to brown; often mottled (Ref. 130769).
Biology:  Corallites are evenly distributed, plocoid, exsert, circular or slightly oval, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, and usually separated from each other by few millimeters. Colonies grow to about 1 m diameter and are found at all depths (Ref. 269). Maximum depth from Ref. 98471. Colonies are found at all depths (Ref. 269). May occur on reef back margins (Ref. 848). Also on subtidal rocks, rocky reefs, outer reef channel, foreslopes, lagoons and inter-reef substrate (Ref. 98471).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 24 October 2023 (A3ce) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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