Stephan:

It does not look like a coral skeleton. Is it quite common and found as isolated pieces?

Best

Syed

Hi Syed,

Thank you for your reply! It is quite big but not as common as Acropora fragments. It does however occur in the old segments but in the new ones so that's why it is fairly  important for the timeline study if it in fact is a coral skeleton.

Best,

Stefan

Stefan,

The skeletal remains are probably corals but without some idea of corallite morphology it will be difficult to identify them. If you still have the samples you could try cutting them in different sections to see if you may get a better cross section that reveals more structure. It’s worth a try, good luck.

Tom

Stefan,

From its architecture it may be the lightweight skeleton of a Euphyllia species (i. e. E. ancora) or a similar genus (Plerogyra, Physogyra etc.).

Hans-Werner

Thank you Tomas and Hans-Werner! 

This cannot be identified with available techniques.

I have tried to compare the images with some of our coral skeletons. The first image seems to resemble the skeleton of a Symphyllia.

Hans-Werner

Hans-Werner:

None of the documented specimens match with coral Symphyllia. Would you kindly upload your specimen which matches with the first image?

Best

Syed

if the second picture is of red/pink color,,, it might be of Tubipora. musica

Senona:

Unfortunately it does not match with critical features of Tubipora musica.

Best

Syed

Hi everyone, and thank you for all your answers! They have been a big help and it is wonderful to see that people are willing to assist me with this.

The most plausible genus is probably Euphyllia, as we discussed the matter with fellow colleagues at Hong Kong University that have field experience. They think it's the most plausible genus to have occurred in the coastal waters of Hong Kong.