Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites myrmidonensis) is a massive reef-building species found along the upper reef slopes of Australia, where it endures the full brunt of wave energy on a daily basis. Colonies can grow to an impressive size, sometimes exceeding four metres across, making this one of the more substantial Porites you are likely to encounter in the wild. The surface texture is characteristically nodular and bumpy, and the individual corallites sit in deeply excavated pits that make this species fairly recognizable to a diver who knows what to look for. Coloration tends toward muted greens and browns, either as a uniform wash or in mottled patches, so it is not a coral people typically chase for bold pigmentation. In the aquarium, this species sits in intermediate territory. Not the most demanding coral to keep, but it does need strong lighting and consistent water quality to maintain its health over the long term. Moderate flow suits it well, mimicking the turbulent conditions it experiences on exposed reef slopes. Given its potential size in the wild, aquarium specimens are typically kept as smaller colonies or frags, and it is genuinely reef safe with no tendency to sting neighbors aggressively.