Lobophyllia coral

This large, fleshy stony coral forms colonies of thick, meandering ridges and valleys, with polyps that expand fleshy tissue lobes during the day, giving colonies a distinctive folded, brain-like or flower-like appearance in shades of green, brown, red, or cream. As a member of the family Lobophylliidae within the order Scleractinia, it builds calcium carbonate skeletons that contribute to reef framework, while its tissues host symbiotic zooxanthellae algae that supply the coral with energy through photosynthesis. It also feeds directly using extensible tentacles at night to capture zooplankton.

Like other reef-building corals, it provides structural habitat that supports fish and invertebrate communities.

The species is distributed across the Indo-Pacific, with confirmed populations in Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Malaysia, Palau, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It inhabits shallow marine reef environments, typically on reef slopes and in lagoons where light penetration supports its symbiotic algae.

The species is classified as Vulnerable, with an unknown population trend. Its principal threats include ocean warming, which triggers coral bleaching by disrupting the coral-algae symbiosis, and ocean acidification, which impairs skeletal formation. Coastal development and associated sedimentation degrade water quality and smother colonies, while agricultural runoff introduces excess nutrients and pollutants.

Collection for the marine aquarium trade, driven by the species' ornamental appeal, adds further pressure to wild populations.

Conservation efforts include regulation of collection through international trade mechanisms, marine protected areas across parts of its range, and reef monitoring programs tracking bleaching events. Given the continuing intensification of climate-related stressors alongside localized pressures, the species' long-term outlook remains uncertain, contingent on global progress in mitigating ocean warming and acidification.

This species inhabits shallow coral reef environments in the Indo-Pacific, typically found on reef slopes and lagoons at depths of 5-30 meters. It prefers areas with moderate water flow and clear water conditions, often forming large colonies on hard substrates in tropical marine ecosystems.