Oken, 1815.
Galaxea astreata (3)
Type species: Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus, 1767)
Total number of species estimated: 4.
Characteristics: Corals zooxanthellate; encrusting to foliaceous, massive and columnar. Polyps (corallites) with pointed septa, shaped like crowns (Veron and Pichon, 1979). Colour cream, light to dark brown or greenish.
Ecology: Most common on reef slopes and the deepest parts of reef flats.
Range: Indo- West Pacific.
Additional remarks: The distinction with the arborescent corals of Acrhelia is arbitrary since specimens of Galaxea cf. prolifera Nemenzo and Ferraris, 1982 also tend to be branching.
Key references: Veron and Pichon, 1979; Nemenzo and Ferraris, 1982; Veron, 1986.