Brain coral (Platygyra daedalea)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Merulinidae · Genus: Platygyra.

Accepted name: Platygyra daedalea · Authority: (Ellis & Solander, 1786) · Taxonomic status: unreplaced junior homonym · AphiaID: 207489.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Astroria astraeiformis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849; Astroria astreiformis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849; Astroria daedalea (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Astroria esperi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849; Caeloria daedalea (Ellis & Scholander, 1786); Coeloria astraeiformis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Coeloria astreiformis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Coeloria daedalea (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Coeloria daedalea f. incrustans Gerth, 1923; Coeloria edwardsi Gardiner, 1899; Coeloria esperi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Coeloria rustica (Dana, 1846); Favia astraeiformis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Madrepora daedalea Ellis & Solander, 1786; Maeandra astraeiformis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Maeandra daedalea (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Maeandra edwardsi (Gardiner, 1899); Maeandra esperi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Maeandra rustica (Dana, 1846); Maeandrina (Coeloria) astraeiformis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849; Maeandrina (Coeloria) daedalea (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Maeandrina (Coeloria) esperi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849); Maeandrina daedalea (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Maeandrina esperi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849; Maeandrina rustica (Dana, 1846).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207489 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Platygyra daedalea. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 100 cm · Depth range: 3–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Vulnerability index: 60 of 100.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 98471. Colonies are found at all depths (Ref. 269).

In most reef environments, especially found in back reef margins. Subtidal on rocks, rocky reefs, outer reef channel and lagoons (Ref. 98471). Dominant coral of the understory species on Acropora sp. patch reefs (Ref. 102838).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 46795) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Platygyra-daedalea.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

2,002 georeferenced occurrence records for Platygyra daedalea are published through GBIF from 59 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 288 distinct locations from a sample of 2,002 records, omitting 45 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (1,140); Japan (191); New Caledonia (79); American Samoa (71); Mayotte (63).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5184733) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5184733&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207489 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Platygyra daedalea (Ellis & Solander, 1786) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 133468) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133468/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5184733) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5184733/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Platygyra daedalea usually forms massive dome or boulder-shaped colonies which may be a metre (yard) or more in diameter; however, sometimes it forms flattened plates or it may be encrusting. The polyps are situated in meandering valleys with low walls between them which are often perforated. The septa are toothed and protuberant, usually with uneven or pointed tips.

There is an obvious ridge, the columella, in the centre of the valley. The colour varies and there may be contrasting valleys and ridges. This coral can be distinguished from the similar but less common Platygyra lamellina by the fact that the valleys are wider and the walls between them have more vertical sides and have flatter tops.

Distribution and habitat

Platygyra daedalea is a common species with a widespread distribution in the Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from Madagascar, the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, to Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the South China Sea. It is present in various reef environments, particularly on back reef slopes, from subtidal rocks down to about 30 m. It is particularly common in the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea.

Ecology

The polyps of P. daedalea expand at night to catch planktonic particles floating by. However, this coral obtains most of its nourishment from the dinoflagellates known as zooxanthellae it houses within its tissues. These provide organic carbon and nitrogen, the products of photosynthesis, to their host. To benefit from this symbiotic arrangement, P. daedalea needs to grow in shallow, sunlit environments.

Platygyra daedalea is an aggressive coral and seeks to prevent competitors from overshadowing it. Researchers placed small colonies of this species alongside similar-sized colonies of the less-aggressive Favites complanata. Some of the tentacles of P. daedalea developed into sweeper tentacles which then inflicted damage on the soft tissues of the adjoining F. complanata.

These sweeper tentacles were up to 90 mm in length, about fifteen times as long as a normal tentacle, and well armed with cnidocytes. The soft tissue damage was extensive, the skeleton was laid bare in places and sponges, algae and other fouling organisms grew on it. Three of the ten corals that were attacked eventually died.

Source: Wikipedia: Platygyra daedalea — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platygyra_daedalea (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.