Stylaraea

Stylaraea is a genus of stony corals belonging to the family Pocilloporidae. These corals are commonly found in tropical and subtropical reef environments of the Indo-Pacific region. They are characterized by their branching or encrusting growth forms and their small, closely spaced corallites (the skeletal cups that house the individual coral polyps).

Stylaraea colonies are typically brown, tan, or greenish in color, depending on the species and environmental conditions. The color is primarily due to the symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, that live within the coral tissue. These algae provide the coral with nutrients through photosynthesis.

Stylaraea corals are important reef builders, contributing to the structural complexity and biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems. Like other coral species, they are vulnerable to various threats, including ocean acidification, rising sea temperatures, pollution, and physical damage from storms and human activities.

Species within the genus Stylaraea include:

• Stylaraea punctata (formerly Stylophora pistillata - recent taxonomic revisions have placed some former Stylophora species into Stylaraea)

The taxonomic classification of corals, including Stylaraea, is subject to ongoing research and revision.