Brain Corals

This is a large family with several genera; positive identification of many species is impossible from photographs alone. Fortunately Hawaii has only three easily-recognized species with prominent circular to hexagonal calices with strong septal walls. All three are tolerant of scouring by wave action and may be found on shallow reefs. None resemble true Brain Corals (Colpophyllia) of the Caribbean .

Pale form, Kapoho, Hawaii, 4 feet	With L. agassizi, Kualoa, Oahu, 6 feet
Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 2 feet	Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 2 feet
Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu	Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu
Typical coloration, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 2 feet	Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

A small, knobby, encrusting species of shallow reef flats and tide pools. It is generally rusty brown to nearly cream, with elevated calices about 2 to 3mm in diameter with septal ridges extending outside the calyx. It is next to Leptastrea agassizi (on left) for comparison above.

Typical form, Kualoa, Oahu, 6 feet

Encrusting form, Puako, Hawaii, 10 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 20 feet

An uncommon species found as encrusting masses or rounded, fist-sized lumps unattached to the substrate in shallow water. Elevated calices 3 to 5mm in diameter are gray or brown. They tend to be somewhat separated from each other on a smooth, olive-green base. Formerly known as Leptastrea bottae.

Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii, 20 feet	Typical form, Shark's Cove, Oahu, 30 feet
Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii, 20 feet	Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii, 20 feet
Kahe Point, Oahu, 25 feet	Smooth w/excavated calices, Kapoho, Hawaii, 3 feet
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet	Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet
Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 20 feet	Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 20 feet
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet	Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 40 feet
Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet	Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet
Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet	YO-257 wreck, Oahu, Hawaii, 85 feet
YO-257 wreck, Oahu, Hawaii, 85 feet

Uncommon at scuba depths found as encrusting vertical sheets or small mounds. The large excavated calices have numerous fine septa. The calices are packed close together and elevated septa may form a narrow groove around them. Color is generally brown or dark gray.

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 45 feet	Nanakuli, Oahu, 25 feet
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet	Sharks Cove, Oahu, 25 feet
Kahe Point, Oahu, 20 feet	Kahe Point, Oahu, 20 feet
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 35 feet	Sharks Cove, Oahu, 35 feet
Sharks Cove, Oahu, 35 feet	Kewalo, Oahu, 35 feet

Locally common as encrusting sheets on pavement-like reefs exposed to surge. Calices are tightly packed and surrounded by short thick septa. Color is white mottled with rusty brown. It is often choked with sand.

Vertical form, odd-color, Puako, Hawaii, 20 feet	Vertical crowded form, Kahe Point, Oahu, 20 feet
Typical, Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet	Typical, Kure Atoll, 8 feet
Kewalo, Oahu, Hawaii, 50 feet	Kewalo, Oahu, Hawaii, 50 feet
Kewalo, Oahu, Hawaii, 50 feet	Kewalo, Oahu, Hawaii, 50 feet

A uncommon encrusting species of tide pools and reefs exposed to surge. Calices 5mm in diameter may be circular to hexagonal, deeply excavated, heavily to barely ribbed, normally separated by wide smooth borders. Colors vary from nearly white with brown pits to greenish yellow. Septa are much stronger than Gardneroseris planulata, which is rare in Hawaii.