Seriatopora hystrix

*Seriatopora hystrix*
Taxonomical systematics
	Scientific name	Seriatopora hystrix Dana, 1846
	Common names	Birds Nest Coral, Brush, Needle, Thorny bush
	Genus	Seriatopora Lamarck, 1816
	Family	Pocilloporidae Lamarck, 1816
	Order	Scleractinia
	Subclass	Zoantharia
	Class	Anthozoa
	Phylum	Cnidaria

Local ecology
	Distribution	Tropical Western Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Northern and Western Indian Ocean, Red Sea.
	Habitat	Shallow reef environments especially intertidal reef flats (Veron, 2000)

Biological characteristics
		Zooxanthellate
		Hermatypic

	S. hystrix at a depth of 30 m at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea.


	S. hystrix at a depth of 27 m at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea.


	S. hystrix at a depth of 21 m at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea.


	S. hystrix at a depth of 20 m at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea.


	S. hystrix at a depth of 18 m at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea.


	S. hystrix at a depth of 6 m at Chinaman's Reef, Great Barrier Reef.


	Seriatopora hystrix on Pixies Pinnacle, Ribbon Reef #9, Queensland, Australia.


	Seriatopora hystrix in aquarium.


	*Close up of Seriatopora hystrix* in aquarium.**

Captive care
	Lighting	Borneman (2001) claims the lighting should be moderately strong, however, I have observed quite a few colonies in water deeper than 20 m.
	Water flow	Mild (Borneman, 2001)
	Feeding	Fish food juice, Artemia nauplii.
	Growth rate	Very fast.

References
	Borneman E.H. 2001. Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History. Microcosm Ltd, Charlotte, VT. 464pp.
	Veron J.E.N. 2000. Corals of the World - Volumes 1, 2, 3. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. 1382pp.