Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites sillimaniana) is one of the more architecturally interesting members of the Porites genus, forming colonies that don't quite fit the typical massive or branching mold. Growth starts as thin, flat basal sheets, from which irregular upright branches emerge from the central regions, connecting and weaving together in an anastomosing tangle. Corallites tend to line up in rows along the flatter sections of the colony, giving those areas a neatly patterned texture. Coloration is understated. Generally pale yellow or brown with white centers at each corallite. One trait that stands out for a Porites is the tendency to extend tentacles during daylight hours, which is not always common in the genus and gives the coral a noticeably fuzzy, active appearance even in the middle of the day. In the wild it occupies reef flat environments, meaning it is accustomed to variable and sometimes challenging conditions. In the aquarium, it falls into intermediate territory. Not the most demanding coral you could keep, but it does appreciate strong lighting and consistent moderate flow to keep detritus from settling into the colony's complex structure. Reefers with some experience managing flow and light distribution will find it a rewarding and unusual addition.