Madriporian coral, also known as stony coral, is an amazing underwater organism that creates stunning reef structures. The term "madriporian" refers to the hard, porous skeleton that the coral creates. There are many synonyms for madriporian coral, depending on the specific species and the characteristics of the coral in question. Some common synonyms include reef-building coral, hermatypic coral, and scleractinian coral. Other synonyms might include stony polyp, hard coral, or just coral reef. No matter how you refer to it, madriporian coral is a vital part of many ecosystems, providing shelter, food, and habitat for countless species of marine life.