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Pavona

Pavona is a genus of large polyp stony corals that are distributed from Australia to the Philippines in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific. The growth form of several nested plates is said to resemble lettuce leaves or cacti. They feed on light or dissolved nutrients through their symbiont zooxanthellae. They are characterized by the fact that they have no skeletal walls separating their corallites. However, they have rib-like skeletal structures that form a flower-like pattern on their surface. Pavona are among the most undemanding stony corals in marine aquaristics. They are excellent for beginners, as they get along with low light and tolerate high nutrient levels. Popular species are for example Pavona decussata, Pavona cacus or the flat growing Pavona maldivensis.

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