Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites rugosa) is a branching stony coral from the shallow reefs of the Indo-West Pacific, notable for its distinctly gnarled growth form. Unlike the tidy, uniform branches you see in many corals, its branches twist and contort irregularly, often fusing together in ways that give the colony a lumpy, almost chaotic silhouette. Hence the common name. The surface texture is noticeably rough, with the skeletal tissue forming irregular ridges rather than neatly encircling each tiny corallite. The individual polyp cups are very small and sit deeply recessed into the skeleton, which is a helpful identification clue when you have a piece in hand. Coloration tends toward pale brown or pinkish, and the branch tips often carry a soft yellow wash that provides a bit of contrast against the rest of the colony. In the wild, this species is found in shallow, well-lit reef zones where both light and water movement are reasonably strong. In a reef system, those same conditions should be replicated. Good illumination and moderate flow to keep detritus from settling into the rough surface. It sits comfortably in the intermediate care bracket, so while not a beginner coral, it is far from demanding for a keeper with a stable, established system.