Faviida

Faviida is a suborder of stony corals, belonging to the order Scleractinia. These corals are characterized by their colonial growth forms, typically forming massive, rounded, or flattened colonies. The individual coral polyps within a Faviida colony are usually large and fleshy, and they secrete a hard, calcium carbonate skeleton. A distinguishing feature of Faviida is the structure of their corallites, the cup-like skeletal structures that house individual polyps. These corallites are often large and may have fused or separate walls, with prominent septa (internal radial partitions).

Faviida corals are found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, inhabiting a variety of reef environments, from shallow lagoons to deeper reef slopes. They are important reef-building organisms, contributing significantly to the structural complexity and biodiversity of coral reefs. Many species of Faviida host symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae within their tissues, which provide them with essential nutrients through photosynthesis. This symbiosis is crucial for the survival and growth of these corals in nutrient-poor tropical waters.

Examples of Faviida include well-known genera such as Favia, Favites, Goniastrea, and Platygyra. These corals exhibit a range of colors and patterns, making them visually striking components of coral reef ecosystems. Like other stony corals, Faviida are susceptible to threats such as climate change, ocean acidification, pollution, and destructive fishing practices, which can lead to coral bleaching and degradation of reef habitats.