DiscoverSpeciesCorals and anemones
lesser star coral
Coelastrea palauensis
- Usual depth2–8 m
- Water temperature22–29 °C
- Best monthsMay and October
- How commonOccasional
Photo credit: (c) portioid, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 15 records
- February: 24 records
- March: 15 records
- April: 12 records
- May: 45 records
- June: 15 records
- July: 8 records
- August: 15 records
- September: 12 records
- October: 35 records
- November: 12 records
- December: 12 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 2–8 m · Deepest record: 18 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 22–29 °C
Photos
(c) portioid, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
no rights reserved · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist 
(c) Belinda Forbes, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist 
(c) Belinda Forbes, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- lesser star coral
Other scientific names: Favia palauensis, Favites palauensis, Goniastraea palauensis, Goniastrea palauensis, Goniastrea paulauensis
Similar species
lesser star coralCoelastrea aspera
false knob coralAstrea curta
Lesser knob coralCyphastrea chalcidicum
Lesser knob coralCyphastrea microphthalma
Lesser knob coralCyphastrea ocellina
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 308 open-data records from 1936 to 2011.
- Species data updated November 1, 2026.
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