''Porites'' is a genus of

stony coral Scleractinia, also called stony corals or hard corals, are marine animals in the phylum Cnidaria that build themselves a hard skeleton. The individual animals are known as polyps and have a cylindrical body crowned by an oral disc in which a m ...

; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetrical. ''Porites'', particularly ''

Porites lutea ''Porites lutea'' is a species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing in very shallow water on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. It sometimes forms "microatolls" in the intertidal zone and these massive structures have been u ...

'', often form

microatoll A microatoll is a circular colony of coral, dead on the top but living around the perimeter. Growth is mainly lateral, as upward growth is limited by exposure to air. Microatolls may be up to in diameter. They are named for their resemblance to ...

s. Corals of the genus ''Porites'' also often serve as hosts for Christmas tree worms ('' Spirobranchus giganteus'').

Aquarium trade

Specimens of ''Porites'' are sometimes available for purchase in the aquarium trade. Due to the strict water quality, lighting and dietary requirements, keeping ''Porites'' in captivity is very difficult.

Paleoclimatology

Porites corals have been shown to be accurate and precise recorders of past marine surface conditions. Measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition of the aragonitic skeleton of coral specimens indicate the sea-surface temperature conditions and the oxygen isotopic composition of the seawater at the time of growth. The oxygen isotopic composition of seawater can indicate the precipitation/evaporation balance because oxygen atoms of the more abundant mass 16 will preferentially evaporate before the more rare mass 18 oxygen. The relationship between temperature, precipitation, and the oxygen isotopic composition of Porites corals is important for reconstructing past climates, and associated large-scale patterns such as the El-Nino Southern Oscillation, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and the mean state of the climate system.

Ecology and biogeography

Corals in the genus ''Porites'' are found in reefs throughout the world. It is a dominant taxon on the Pandora platform of the

Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over over an area of approximately . The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, ...

. Potts et al. (1985) identified 7 dominant species: ''P. lobata'', ''P. solida'', ''P. lutea'', ''P. australiensis'', ''P. mayeri'', ''P. murrayensis'', and ''P. anae''. The oldest of six colonies in this reef was approximately 700 years old, and was estimated to be growing at 10.3 mm per year. Meyer and Schultz (1985) demonstrated that ''P. furcata'' has a mutualistic relationship with the schools of French and white grunts ('' Haemulon flavolineatum'' and '' H. plumierii'') that rest in their heads during the day. The fish provide it with ammonium, nitrates, and phosphorus compounds. Coral heads with resting grunts experience significantly higher growth rates and nitrogen composition than those without. Representatives of this genus are found in both the

Indo-Pacific The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth. In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...

and Caribbean basins.

Physiology

Some species in this genus demonstrate high levels of

halotolerance Halotolerance is the adaptation of living organisms to conditions of high salinity. Halotolerant species tend to live in areas such as hypersaline lakes, coastal dunes, saline deserts, salt marshes, and inland salt seas and springs. Halophiles ...

. In the

Gulf of Thailand The Gulf of Thailand, also known as the Gulf of Siam, is a shallow inlet in the southwestern South China Sea, bounded between the southwestern shores of the Indochinese Peninsula and the northern half of the Malay Peninsula. It is around in l ...

''P. lutea'' tolerates daily tidal shifts of 10-30‰ salinity. Moberg et al. (1997) determined that when the salinity declines, the symbiotic zooxanthellae decrease their photosynthesis rate as the coral contracts its polyps to protect them. The corals maintain their metabolic rate by temporarily switching to heterotrophy, consuming prey such as brine shrimp and other zooplankton. ''Porites'' growth rates can be determined by examining annual rings in their skeleton. This method was used to determine that ''P. astreoides'' grows its skeleton about the central axis by approximately 3.67mm/year, calcifies at approximately 0.55g/cm²/year, and increases density in this region of the body at approximately 1.69g/cm³/year. Additionally, Meyer and Schultz (1985) reported that coral growth varies seasonally. They observed that ''P. furcata's'' growth rate peaked between May and August, which is summertime in their Caribbean habitat.

Threats

Threats to corals in the genus ''Porites'' include predation, climate change, and anthropogenic pollution. When exposed to increased temperatures and copper, ''P. cylindrica'' slowed its rate of production. Additionally, the symbiotic zooxanthellae reduced their photosynthesis rate when exposed to both stressors. Done and Potts (1992) observed that when settled, larvae in ''Porites'' are vulnerable to competition from other corals and predation from sea urchins. Additionally, mortality likelihood increases following strong storms.

Species

* ''

Porites alveolata ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmet ...

'' Milne Edwards, 1860 * †''

Porites amplectans ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmet ...

'' Felix, 1921 * ''

Porites annae ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Crossland, 1952 * †''

Porites anguillensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Vaughan, 1919 * ''

Porites aranetai ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Nemenzo, 1955 * ''

Porites arnaudi ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Reyes-Bonilla & Carricart-Ganivet, 2000 * ''

Porites astreoides ''Porites astreoides'', commonly known as mustard hill coral or yellow porites, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is a common species in the Caribbean Sea and western tropical Atlantic Ocean in North, Central, and ...

'' Lamarck, 1816 * ''

Porites attenuata ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Nemenzo, 1955 * ''

Porites australiensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Vaughan, 1918 * ''

Porites baueri ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Squires, 1959 * ''

Porites branneri ''Porites branneri'', known by the common name blue crust coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing on reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the northern and eastern coasts of South America. Description ''P. brann ...

'' Rathbun, 1887 * ''

Porites brighami ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Vaughan, 1907 * ''

Porites cocosensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmet ...

'' Wells, 1950 * '' Porites colonensis'' Zlatarski, 1990 * ''

Porites columnaris ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Klunzinger, 1879 * '' Porites compressa'' Dana, 1846 * '' Porites cribripora'' Dana, 1846 * ''

Porites cumulatus ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Nemenzo, 1955 * ''

Porites cylindrica ''Porites cylindrica'', commonly known as hump coral, is a stony coral of the subclass Hexacorallia. Description ''P. cylindrica'' is a hermatypic Hermatypic corals are those corals in the order Scleractinia which build reefs by depositing hard ...

'' Dana, 1846 * '' Porites decasepta'' Clareboudt, 2006 * ''

Porites deformis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Nemenzo, 1955 * ''

Porites densa ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Vaughan, 1918 * '' Porites desilveri'' Veron, 2000 * ''

Porites divaricata ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' LeSueur, 1821 * ''

Porites echinulata ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Klunzinger, 1879 * ''

Porites eridani ''Porites'' is a genus of Scleractinia, stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology (biology), morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced Calice (zoology), calices, a well- ...

'' Umbgrove, 1940 * ''

Porites evermanni ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmet ...

'' Vaughan, 1907 * ''

Porites exserta ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Pillai, 1967 * ''

Porites flavus ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Veron, 2000 * ''

Porites fontanesii ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Benzoni & Stefani, 2012 * ''

Porites fragosa ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Dana, 1846 * ''

Porites furcata ''Porites furcata'', commonly known as hump coral, thin finger coral or branched finger coral, is a species of stony coral in the genus ''Porites''. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean. Description ''Porites furcata'' is ...

'' Lamarck, 1816 * ''

Porites gaimardi ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851 * '' Porites harrisoni'' Veron, 2000 * '' Porites hawaiiensis'' Vaughan, 1907 * ''

Porites heronensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Veron, 1985 * '' Porites horizontalata'' Hoffmeister, 1925 * †''

Porites indica ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Duncan, 1880 * ''

Porites latistellata ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmet ...

'' Quelch, 1886 * ''

Porites lichen ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Dana, 1846 * ''

Porites lobata ''Porites lobata'', known by the common name lobe coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing on coral reefs in tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Description ''Porites lobata'' is a hermatypic ...

'' Dana, 1846 * ''

'' Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 * †''

Porites macdonaldi ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Vaughan, 1919 * '' Porites mannarensis'' Pillai, 1967 * '' Porites mayeri'' Vaughan, 1918 * ''

Porites minicoiensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmet ...

'' Pillai, 1967 * ''

Porites monticulosa ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Dana, 1846 * ''

Porites murrayensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Vaughan, 1918 * '' Porites myrmidonensis'' Veron, 1985 * ''

Porites napopora ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symme ...

'' Veron, 2000 * '' Porites negrosensis'' Veron, 1990 * ''

Porites nigrescens ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Dana, 1846 * ''

Porites nodifera ''Porites nodifera'', also known as dome coral, is a species of stony coral in the Poritidae family. It was first described by Carl Benjamin Klunzinger, a German physician and zoologist active in the Red Sea region in the 1860s, and classifying ...

'' Klunzinger, 1879 * ''

Porites okinawensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Veron, 1990 * '' Porites ornata'' Nemenzo, 1971 * '' Porites palmata'' Dana, 1846 * '' Porites panamensis'' Verrill, 1866 * †''

Porites pellegrinii ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Duncan, 1880 * ''

Porites porites ''Porites porites'', commonly known as hump coral or finger coral, is a species of stony coral in the genus ''Porites''. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean and also along the coast of West Africa. Description ''Porites p ...

'' Pallas, 1766 * †'' Porites portoricensis'' Vaughan, 1919 * ''

Porites profundus ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Rehberg, 1892 * ''

Porites pukoensis ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Vaughan, 1907 * '' Porites randalli'' Forsman & Birkeland, 2009 * †'' Porites reussiana'' Ducan & Wall, 1865 * '' Porites rugosa'' Fenner & Veron, 2000 * '' Porites rus'' Forskål, 1775 * '' Porites sillimaniani'' Nemenzo, 1976 * '' Porites solida'' Forskål, 1775 * '' Porites somaliensis'' Gravier, 1910 * ''

Porites stephensoni ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Crossland, 1952 * '' Porites superfusa'' Gardiner, 1898 * †'' Porites superposita'' Duncan, 1880 * ''

Porites sverdrupi ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Durham, 1947 * †'' Porites trinitatis'' Vaughan in Vaughan and Hoffmeister, 1926 * ''

Porites tuberculosa ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Veron, 2000 * ''

Porites vaughani ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Crossland, 1952 * †''

Porites waylandi ''Porites'' is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetr ...

'' Foster, 1986

References

{{Authority control Poritidae Cnidarian genera Taxa named by Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link