Favia sp. - three months in the display
Picture taken May 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Family: Faviidae.

Favia (fay'-vee-ah) are some of the most common corals in the world. They are typically massive, domed or rounded shaped. Feeding tentacles emerge at night. The flesh typically remains expanded during the day.

Favites spp. corals look very much like Favia spp. corals except that they have shared walls between the corallites whereas the Favia spp. such as the one above have individual walls for each corallite.

This coral is about 5 inches in diameter. Overall it is a near perfect sphere.

Favia sp. - polyp closeup.
Picture taken February 2006, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Closeup of the polyps.

That is a lot of mouths to feed.