Isopora palifera is easily one of the most recognizable corals throughout the Indo-Pacific. If you are just starting to learn coral identification Isopora is one of the easiest corals to spot.
Isopora forms robust colonies with thick blades, and the entire colony is covered in smooth, rounded corallites. The blades are upright stretching to the surface and the tops of each blade are normally a pale color. Isopora is mostly pale brownish yellow, but can also have tints of purple, pink, and blue.
If you are looking in an older guide book this coral will also be classified as Acropora, however, it was only recently put in its own genus, Isopora as it lacks the characteristic axial corallite found in Acropora species.
You will find this coral in the shallowest part of the reef at the top of reef slope, and in flat shallow reefs between 2 and 5 meters (6 to 16 feet). Colonies can grow to several meters across.
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