Porites farasani & P. hadramautiare two new species of small polyp stony corals recently described from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These two newPoritesspecies were recognized as novel for having a very different growth form, appearance and corallites that is very distinct from other species ofPoritesin the area.
Porites farasaniwas only found in the Farasan Islands of the Southern Red Sea and it usually forms thinly encrusting colonies in shallow water of protected reef environments. Live colonies ofP. farasaniare green or greenish brown with the tissue of the polyps a darker contrasting color, and it was discovered to have an ‘exclusive lineage of symbionts’ that hasn’t been seen in other species of corals.
MeanwhilePorites hadramautiwas collected in Burum, Yemen, also in pretty shallow water between 3 and 5 meters (10 to 16 feet). Live colonies ofP. hadramautiare recognizable for having distinctive coloration being mostly white overall, with a dark brownish polyp and red mouth. The two newly described species ofPoritesare notable both for having distinct morphological characters as well as unique genetic markers from congeners.
Porites farasani & P. hadramautiare described by Terranneo et. al. in the latest issue ofSystematics & Biodiversity.
