Finger corals are a dominant species in the Caribbean, Florida, Bahamas and Indo-Pacific ocean reefs which form some of the largest colonies extending as high as 8 meters (26 feet) tall. They are a very slow growing form and therefore some may be a thousand years old!

Because the finger coral skeleton sample in my possession has broken off branches (very typical) I was unable to identify the exact species, but am certain it belongs to the genus called, Porites. Described below are threee Western Atlantic Porites species possibly a match for my sample!

• Club Tip Finger Coral (Porites, porites) possess thick, stubby branches growing upright or spread wide apart. Club finger coral are a hardy stony coral featuring thick, blunt-tipped branches in varying shades including green, blue-gray, pink, purple or cream. They are commonly found in the Caribbean, Florida, Bahamas, and the Indo-West Pacific reef coasts. They require high lighting environments with strong water flow, and stable reef boundaries.

• Branching Finger Coral (Porites, furcata) possess elongated, tightly compact slender branches with rounded blunt or bulbous tips. It forms dense, bushy clumps; most commonly browns, tans, and yellowish hues, but they can also appear in green, blue pink and grey; a fast-growing coral often found in shallow Caribbean, Florida and Indo-Pacific reefs. They require high-intensity lighting and medium-to-strong water flow.

• Thin Finger Coral (Porites, divaricata) possess the most slender branches of the three; are widely spaced apart, often divided at their flattened or clubbed tips. Colors vary from purple, grey, yellowish-brown to pinkish-brown. Thin Finger coral is a small Caribbean stony coral typically forming small colonies, often found in shallow, high-sediment environments like seagrass beds and protected reefs.

FINGER CORAL CLASSIFICATION

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Cnardia (stinging cells)
• Class: Anthozoa (flower animl)
• Order: Scleractinia (stony coral)
• Family: Poritidae (massive reef builders)
• Genus: Porites (finger-like)

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