Hedgehog Coral

About

Hedgehog Coral (Echinopora ashmorensis) is a large-growing stony coral native to shallow, sheltered reef environments across the Philippines and northern Australia. In the wild, colonies can spread well beyond a metre across, built from irregularly twisted tubes with hollow centres and occasionally solid branching projections. A growth form that sets this species apart from many more commonly kept Echinopora relatives. The corallites themselves are small, roughly 3 to 5 millimetres across, conical in shape, and arranged with well-developed internal structures including prominent paliform lobes that give the surface a textured, almost bristled appearance. The likely inspiration for the common name. Colouration is understated: colonies tend toward uniform brown or a dark blue-grey, so this isn't a coral you keep for vivid pigmentation. Its appeal is purely architectural. In aquarium settings, Hedgehog Coral falls into the intermediate care bracket. It appreciates moderate light and moderate flow, and like most Echinopora it should be given enough space to grow laterally without crowding neighbours. Reef safe and generally well-suited to mixed SPS and LPS systems, it rewards keepers who enjoy unconventional growth forms over flashier coloration.