Green Coral

Plesiastrea versipora

Green coral is recognized for its closely set, slightly plocoid corallites, with details of septa and costae that can vary. The coral typically displays a bright green or brown hue, with a lighter oral disc. Divers can spot this coral in various reef environments, including shaded areas like under overhangs, rocky foreshores, and the back and foreslope of reefs. It is also found in lagoons and outer reef channels, extending from the Indo-Pacific region, stretching from Japan to Australia and South Africa to Easter Island. Green coral thrives at depths ranging from the surface to 40 meters, with most occurrences recorded between 12 to 15 meters. It is a sessile organism, often found in subtidal zones, and its polyps are known to extend during the daytime. As a member of the class Anthozoa, it can be either gonochoric or hermaphroditic, releasing mature gametes into the coelenteron before spawning them through the mouth. The zygote develops into a planktonic planula larva, undergoing metamorphosis before settling on the aboral end. For divers encountering Green coral, it is important to note that this coral is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and its international trade is monitored under CITES Appendix II.