PHOTO: SHARIF SARWAR

A Favia-type brain coral rests on a reef in the Bay of Bengal off Saint Martin’s Island, identifiable by its tightly packed yet individually walled polyps. Found in shallow reef flats, lagoons, and back reef zones, these corals build slow-growing, dome-shaped colonies that form part of the reef’s structural foundation. They survive through a dual feeding strategy -- hosting symbiotic algae for photosynthesis and extending tentacles at night to capture plankton. While many species in this group are listed from Least Concern to Near Threatened by the IUCN, their future is increasingly uncertain. Corals are vital to marine ecosystems, supporting nearly a quarter of all ocean life, yet rising sea temperatures are triggering widespread bleaching, weakening reefs at an unprecedented rate.