Scapophyllia cylindrica colony that is just beginning to develop columns, exposed reef slope at Lizard Island. Identified by Zoe Richards.
© Anne Hoggett
Identified as Leptoria irregularis by Grace Frank, who notes, "Very similar in appearance to Merulina, however the walls are rounded, tightly packed and don't divide into 'fans' towards the edges. Similar colour to Leptoria phrygia."
Zoe Richards reidentified this colony as Scapophyllia in Jan 2020. As there is only one species in that genus, (apart from one that is nomen inquirendum; WORMS 23 Jan 2020), S. cylindrica is used here.