Hood Coral

About

Hood Coral (Stylophora madagascarensis) is a small-polyp stony coral that builds tightly branched colonies where each branch stays slender, rarely exceeding about five millimeters across. What sets it apart from other Stylophora species is a subtle architectural detail: the corallites near branch tips develop small hood-like projections, giving the ends a slightly sheltered, capped look when viewed up close. The polyps themselves stay retracted through the day, which is normal for this genus, so the colony's texture is defined by the densely packed corallites and a finely spinuled surface between them. Coloration tends toward an understated tan throughout, occasionally showing a soft pinkish blush at the branch bases. In the wild it grows across a range of shallow reef settings, from wave-washed exposed zones to calmer lagoon edges around Madagascar and the broader Indo-Pacific. In the aquarium it follows the general demands of most SPS builds: strong, consistent flow and intense lighting are both necessary for long-term health. It sits comfortably in the intermediate tier of coral keeping, rewarding hobbyists who have already dialed in stable water chemistry and consistent husbandry. Placement high in the tank near good flow is the standard starting point.