Favites pentagona
A common Indo-Pacific stony coral of least concern.
Favites pentagona, also called larger star coral, is a type of stony coral belonging to the family Merulinidae. It lives across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean out to the western Pacific. Because it is widespread and common, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a species of "least concern."
This coral forms encrusting or massive colonies, sometimes with irregular lobes that grow into stubby columns. A colony can spread about a meter wide. Its corallites are less than 6 mm across, with thin, sharply angled walls that several polyps may share. On the oral disc, the palliform lobes are easy to see, and there are only a few septa. The coral is often brightly colored, with contrasting green oral discs and a brown, red, or purple coenosarc—the living tissue covering the skeleton between polyps.
Favites pentagona is found in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Its range includes the Red Sea, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia, both in Western Australia and on the Great Barrier Reef. It lives down to 25 meters deep and is common on rocky reefs, outer reef channels, reef slopes, and in lagoons.
Like many corals, this species is zooxanthellate: it hosts symbiotic dinoflagellates in its tissues that use sunlight to produce nutrients for the coral. It is also aggressive. At night, it extends its polyps to feed on plankton and sends out long sweeper tentacles armed with stinging cells well beyond its base to keep from being crowded or overgrown. To clear sand from its surface, it inflates its polyps and dislodges the sediment.
Favites pentagona is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. It releases eggs and sperm in well-formed bundles, and in any given area, spawning happens in sync so that all the corals release their gametes at once. The bundles float to the surface, boosting the chances of fertilization. The species is vulnerable to black band disease and white plague, two coral diseases that have become more common since the 1990s.
Though no precise population trends are known, this coral faces the same threats as others: global warming, ocean acidification, and reef habitat degradation. Still, its wide range and abundance keep its conservation status at "least concern."
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Favites pentagona
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Colonies of Favites pentagona are encrusting or massive, sometimes with lobes forming irregular columns, and may spread to about a metre across. The corallites are less than 6 mm in diameter, with sharply-angled, thin walls, and several polyps may share a common wall. The palliform lobes are clearly visible on the oral disc, and there are a small number of septa. This coral is often vividly coloured, with contrasting (often green) oral discs and brown, red or purple coenosarc.
Favites pentagona is a zooxanthellate species, harbouring symbiotic unicellular dinoflagellates in its tissues. It is an aggressive species, extending elongated sweeper tentacles armed with stinging cells at night to avoid being crowded or overgrown. It clears away sand by inflating its polyps to dislodge sediment. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, releasing eggs and sperm in well-formed bundles; spawning tends to occur in synchrony in any one area.
This coral is susceptible to black band disease and white plague, two coral diseases which have become more common since the 1990s. Its range extends from the Red Sea and South Africa to India, Indonesia, Japan and Australia, occurring on rocky reefs, outer reef channels, reef slopes and lagoons down to 25 metres.
Reader's Guide
Favites pentagona is notable for its wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea to the Western Pacific Ocean, and its common occurrence in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Its conservation status of 'least concern' reflects its abundance over much of its range, though precise population trends are unknown. The species faces the same threats as other corals: global warming, ocean acidification, and degradation of its coral reef habitats. Its aggressive nature, including the use of sweeper tentacles and sediment-clearing behavior, contributes to its success in competitive reef environments. The simultaneous hermaphroditic spawning strategy, with synchronized gamete release, enhances fertilization success. Its susceptibility to black band disease and white plague, diseases that have become more common since the 1990s, highlights ongoing ecological pressures. As a zooxanthellate coral, it plays a role in reef ecosystems by hosting symbiotic dinoflagellates that provide nutrients through photosynthesis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Favites pentagona?
Favites pentagona, commonly known as the larger star coral, is a stony coral species within the family Merulinidae. It is one of the more widely distributed corals in the Indo-Pacific region.
Where can you find Favites pentagona in the wild?
This coral ranges from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean all the way to the western Pacific, typically inhabiting shallow reefs down to about 25 metres (82 ft). Its broad geographic spread is one reason it is so frequently encountered by divers and researchers.
What does a Favites pentagona colony look like?
Colonies tend to grow encrusting or massive, sometimes developing irregular lobes that eventually form stubby columns, and a single colony can spread roughly a metre across. The individual corallites are quite small—under 6 mm in diameter—with thin, sharply angled walls that are often shared by more than one polyp.
Is Favites pentagona at risk of extinction?
No; the IUCN classifies it as a species of least concern because it is both widespread and common throughout its range. Its abundance across multiple ocean basins makes it a relatively secure member of Indo-Pacific reef communities.
Why do coral hobbyists and reef ecologists care about Favites pentagona?
As a common, hardy Merulinid that builds large structural colonies, it plays a meaningful role in reef framework and provides habitat for smaller invertebrates. Its shared-corallite polyp arrangement and modest size also make it a useful reference point when studying growth patterns across the family.
More in Brain and Merulinid Corals 1-24
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