Porites planocella
Nemenzo, 1955
Corallum consisting of broad palmate, coalescent, tall branches produced at the top into several compressed or subcylindrical branchlets with tapering ends, some dichotomously arranged. Sides of branches slightly nodulous. Living portion 10-12 cm down, its edge marked only by a thin limy epitheca, not projecting; terminal branchlets up to 4 cm.
Corallites even with surface, circular, 1.3 mm average diameter; not very distinct under unaided eyes. Wall flat, without median ridge all over, so surface of corallum appears smooth; granules on top of wall small and far so that calice appears to be surrounded by a fairly distinct circle with relatively smooth surface.
Septa heavily spinulate, as thick as loculi, horizontal in position. Septal formula typical, with lateral members of the triplet joined or not joined to ventral directive. One or 2 large septal granules as conspicuous as pali. Pali 6 or 7 – that of the dorsal directive smallest; triplet with one or 2, in the latter case lateral members bear the pali and the ventral directive appears short. Pali also heavily spinulate, even with surface. Columella a spiniform or slightly compressed tubercle.
Remarks:This coral can be distinguished by its circular calices which are not easily recognized in well bleached specimens because of their being even with the surface, the prominent septal granules, and the absence of median ridge on the wall. In growth form this species resembles palmata to a certain extent.
Paratypes: Two other specimens believed to be of this species (C-462 and C-465) have shorter only slightly compressed branches, with dichotomous branching at their upper ends. The construction of the calices is similar to that of the holotype.
The holotype was obtained from a well sheltered bay (Puerto Galera Bay) while the paratypes came from an exposed portion of the sea in about 4 meters of water. This perhaps accounts for the difference in their branching.
Type Specimen Location: 
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