Named for the brain-like appearance of Pavona varians.  These corals are quite variable in appearance and difficult to identify at times.  They have small star-shaped calices with fine radiating septa that are shared by adjacent calices making it difficult to find where each individual begins and the other ends.  

Kapoho, Hawaii, 5 feet

Pupukea, Oahu, 35 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 10 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 60 feet

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Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 10 feet

Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

YO-257 wreck, Oahu, 90 feet

Kewalo, Oahu, 50 feet

Kapoho tidepool, Hawaii

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 40 feet

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Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

Common as small encrusting patches on vertical surfaces.  May also form plates or nodular masses over dead coral.  Color typically light brown, rarely green, rust, or dark gray.  Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Halona Blowhole, Oahu, 30 feet

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Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 60 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 30 feet

Molokini Back Wall, 50 feet

Fairly common on vertical surfaces at scuba depths.  Forms small encrustations that are very lumpy where exposed to light or nearly smooth in shaded areas, calices are difficult to distinguish, septa fine and wavy.  Dark brown to red, raised surfaces lighter.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet

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Puako, Hawaii, 20 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet

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Rare on shaded vertical surfaces.  Forms large encrusting patches with immersed calices surrounded by ropy ridges.  Dark brown and green.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet

Waimanalo, Oahu, 20 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 30 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 20 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 20 feet

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Portlock, Oahu, 20 feet

Driftwood, Hawaii, 40 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 15 feet

Fairly common in shallow water exposed to surge.  Forms massive colonies of thick, blunt to angular plates with tiny snowflake-like calices.  Light gray, tan, or yellow.  Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Branching form, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 30 feet

Laminar form, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 30 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 30 feet

Gray colony, Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 30 feet

Molokini Back Wall, 40 feet

Uncommon as small encrustations with on shaded vertical surfaces.  May also form small plates with finger-like projections.  Calices are widely separated, elevated and septa are angular with flaring ends.  Rusty brown to gray, raised surfaces light.  Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Tropical Eastern Pacific.  Formerly known as Pavona pollicata.

Moku Manu Pinnacle, Oahu, 150 feet

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Rare in deep water.  Septa are wavy with smooth texture, calices are elevated and tilted toward the outside.  Very similar to L. scabra.  Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Maui Ocean Center

Rainmaker Point, American Samoa, 50 feet

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Rare in deep water.  Septa are wavy with beaded texture, calices are elevated and tilted toward the outside.  Very similar to L. hawaiiensis.   Hawaii, Indo-Pacific & Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Maui Ocean Center

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Moku Manu Pinnacle, Oahu, 130 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 80 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 60 feet

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100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet

Kewalo Hump, Oahu, 90 feet

Kewalo Hump, Oahu, 90 feet

Ala Moana, Oahu, 250 feet

Honaunau, Kona, Hawaii, 50 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 40 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet

Rare at a few locations on Oahu, Maui, Kaho'olawe, and Hawaii.  Forms massive encrustations with free edges, calices are large and angular.  Light golden brown with white edges.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 35 feet

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Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, Mexico

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