Pavona spp. - Easy to Intermediate

Pavona corals, often referred to as “Cactus Corals” or “Lettuce Corals,” are a diverse group of small-polyp stony corals (SPS) recognized for their leafy, plating, and ridged skeletal growth forms. Found throughout the Indo-Pacific, Pavona spp. are highly adaptable and serve as an excellent educational coral for classrooms and teaching aquariums. Their distinctive shapes and textures allow students to explore how stony corals build structure, adapt to their environment, and support entire reef ecosystems. Educational Value & Reef Benefits: Showcases morphological diversity within a single genus, with forms ranging from plates to ridges to encrusting sheets. Demonstrates calcium carbonate skeleton formation, essential to reef framework and habitat creation. Useful for teaching adaptive growth strategies, as Pavona alters its shape in response to light and water flow. Provides a living example of zooxanthellae symbiosis, linking coral coloration and health to photosynthesis. Contribu