Systematics and ecology of New Caledonian Faviinae (Coelenterata – Scleractinia)

Taxonomic treatment of a large collection of recent corals from New Caledonia belonging to the subfamily Faviinae resulted in the full description of thirty-four species amongst which two are new, while some others are briefly mentioned. A pattern for the subfamily in the influence of environmental factors on growth was found. A comparison between this general pattern and the environment-induced modification of each different form allowed a particular growth form’s ecology to be used as a criterion for defining the species to which it should be allocated.