Brain Coral

About

Brain coral (Platygyra sinensis), also known as lesser valley coral, is one of the more widely distributed members of the meandroid corals across the Indo-West Pacific, turning up in reef environments from shallow back reef margins all the way down to around 48 meters. Its colonies grow in massive or flattened forms, covered in the winding, maze-like valleys that give brain corals their common name. The walls dividing those valleys are notably thin, which is a useful identification detail when you are trying to tell it apart from similar species. Septa are fine and slightly raised, while the columellae are weakly developed with no distinct centers. A subtle structural trait that separates it from some of its close relatives. Color can vary quite a bit, ranging from muted browns and greens to brighter, more saturated tones, so two specimens sitting side by side in a dealer's tank can look surprisingly different from each other. In the aquarium, this species is considered reef safe and sits comfortably in the intermediate care bracket. It appreciates moderate lighting and moderate flow, and is generally more forgiving than some of the more demanding LPS corals, making it a reasonable choice once you have some reef-keeping experience under your belt.