Bleached colonies often regain full pigmentation within several months of bleaching. Partial mortality associated with bleaching is characterized by irregular, white, tissue-denuded blotches within areas of pale tissue. Area of accelerated growth formed through a rapid increase in the number of cells. No tissue separation with adjacent tissue. Irregular, protuberant, calcified mass covered with undifferentiated tissue.
Cells lack symbiotic algae and structural organization of normal tissue.
Proliferates through rapid growth and multiplication of calicoblastic epithelial cells. Affects acroporids . Stegastes planifrons three spot damselfish actively defends coral. Patches are often slightly depressed with respect to the rest of the colony surface. Patches reported to spread outward, with slow mortality of affected tissue.