Pentagonal Honeycomb Coral

Favites pentagona

Favites pentagona, commonly known as the pentagonal honeycomb coral, is a species of stony coral found in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific Ocean. It thrives in tropical and subtropical shallow seas, often inhabiting rocky reefs, outer reef channels, reef slopes, and lagoons. Divers can encounter this coral at depths up to 40 meters, though it is most commonly found shallower than 20 meters. This coral forms colonies that are either encrusting or massive, sometimes developing irregular lobes. The colonies can spread to about a meter across. Its corallites are distinct with sharply-angled, thin walls, and several polyps may share a common wall. The coral is often brightly colored, featuring green oral discs and a coenosarc that can be brown, red, or purple. Favites pentagona is a zooxanthellate species, hosting symbiotic dinoflagellates that aid in nutrient synthesis through photosynthesis. At night, it extends its polyps and sweeper tentacles to feed on plankton, showcasing its aggressive nature by warding off other organisms. It reproduces as a simultaneous hermaphrodite, releasing gamete bundles into the water column for external fertilization. The species is susceptible to coral diseases such as black band disease and white plague, but it is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.