Study of Diversity and Abundant Species of Hard Coral West of Larak Island (Persian Gulf)

The knowledge on coral reef distribution and biodiversity on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf is very limited. In the present study, specimens of hard corals were collected from four stations west of Larak Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz. Coral specimens were photographed showing the whole specimen and the corallite structure. These specimens were identified using available references and through communication with coral taxonomists in Australia and the Unites States. Fourteen species of hard corals belonging to eight families and ten genera were identified. The most abundant Genus was Favia sp with 45% cover, which is the most abundant Genus and Genus Turbinaria sp with 14% cover than Favia sp.