Diploastrea heliopora

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Diploastrea heliopora
Helcogramma striata (Neon triplefin) on Diploastrea heliopora (Hard coral).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Diploastreidae
Genus: Diploastrea
Species:
D. heliopora
Binomial name
Diploastrea heliopora
Lamarck, 1816
Synonyms [2]
List
  • Astraea heliopora Lamarck, 1816
  • Astrea heliopora Lamarck, 1816
  • Orbicella heliopora (Lamarck, 1816)
  • Orbicella minikoensisGardiner, 1904 [lapsus]
  • Orbicella minikoiensis Gardiner, 1904

Diploastrea heliopora, commonly known as diploastrea brain coral [3] or honeycomb coral [4] among other vernacular names, is a species of hard coral in the family Diploastreidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. This species can form massive dome-shaped colonies of great size.

Contents

Taxonomy

Diploastrea heliopora was first described in 1816 by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck as Astrea heliopora. It was transferred to the new genus Diploastrea by G. Matthai in 1914. [5] Diploastrea heliopora was included in the family Agathiphylliidae by T.W. Vaughan and J.W. Wells in 1943. It was the only extant member of the family, which also included four fossil species. In 1956, Wells transferred the genus to Faviidae, and this has been widely accepted. However, recent molecular and phylogenetic studies show that this coral has certain unique features, and a separate family, Diploastreidae, has been reinstated. It is the only extant member of the family. [6]

Description

A colonial species, D. heliopora grows into domes 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) or more across. The corallites are plocoid (with an individual wall), round and closely packed, about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter and formed by extratentacular budding. The corallite walls are distinctive, being not solid but formed from the enlarged outer ends of the septa, which are not connected to each other. The columellae are large. The coral has a smooth surface and is usually cream or greyish-brown, sometimes tinged with green. It is a zooxanthellate species. [2] [6]

Distribution and habitat

This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, including the Red Sea, occurring at depths down to 30 m (100 ft). [1] Its typical habitat is in silty environments without strong wave action such as protected fringing reefs and back reef slopes. In the atoll lagoons of the Indian Ocean it is often plentiful and dominant, while in the Red Sea it is uncommon. [2]

Ecology

Small gobies can often be found perching on this coral or swimming around the surface searching for food. [1] This coral is a zooxanthellate species; the coral houses symbiotic dinoflagellates within its tissues which supply it with much of the nourishment it needs. The polyps supplement this by extending their tentacles to feed, but do so only at night. [2]

Status

D. heliopora is plentiful in some areas but less common elsewhere. In Indonesia it is collected for the aquarium trade, but apart from this, the threats it faces are those affecting coral reefs in general; climate change, ocean acidification, coral disease and human actions. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "near threatened". [1]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Fungia</i> Genus of corals

Fungia is a genus of corals in the family Fungiidae. It is monotypic with the single species Fungia fungites, which is found growing on reefs in the Indo-Pacific.

<i>Cycloseris</i> Genus of corals

Cycloseris is a genus of solitary disc corals in the family Fungiidae. They are found in the Indo-Pacific. They inhabit the lower reef slopes, and the areas between reefs with soft sediments. They tolerate turbid waters.

<i>Ctenella</i> Genus of corals

Ctenella is a monotypic genus of stony coral in the family Euphylliidae. It is represented by a single species, Ctenella chagius. These corals are massive in size with meandering valleys between the calyces which have solid, non-porous walls and fine, evenly spaced, solid septae. They are found in the Indian Ocean being endemic to the Chagos archipelago. It forms solid, smooth hemispherical domes.

<i>Lobophyllia hemprichii</i> Species of coral

Lobophyllia hemprichii, commonly called lobed brain coral, lobed cactus coral or largebrain root coral, is a species of large polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. In its specific name Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg honoured his late partner the Prussian naturalist Wilhelm Hemprich; they were among the first to study the marine life of the Red Sea.

<i>Acropora nasuta</i> Species of coral

Acropora nasuta is a species of branching stony coral in the family Acroporidae. It is native to the western and central Indo-Pacific where it is found in shallow reef habitats. Like other corals of the genus Acropora, it is susceptible to coral bleaching and coral diseases and the IUCN has listed it as being "Near Threatened".

Acanthastrea rotundoflora is a species of coral found in Indo-Pacific waters from the Red Sea to Australia and the East China Sea. The species in uncommon throughout its range, and is threatened by the global loss of coral reef habitats.

Alveopora fenestrata is a species of stony coral that is found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It can be found in shallow coral reefs, to a depth of 30 metres (100 ft). It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching.

<i>Turbinaria</i> (coral) Genus of corals

Turbinaria is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Dendrophylliidae. Common names for this genus include disc coral, scroll coral, cup coral, vase coral, pagoda coral and ruffled ridge coral. These corals are native to the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Japan and the south Central Pacific Ocean.

<i>Turbinaria stellulata</i> Species of coral

Turbinaria stellulata, also known as disc coral, is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "vulnerable".

<i>Turbinaria mesenterina</i> Species of coral

Turbinaria mesenterina, commonly known as disc coral, is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "vulnerable".

<i>Herpolitha</i> Genus of corals

Herpolitha is a monotypic genus of mushroom corals in the family Fungiidae. The only member of the genus is Herpolitha limax, commonly known as the tongue, slipper, mole or striate boomerang coral. It is a free-living species and is native to reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this coral as being of "least concern".

<i>Agaricia agaricites</i> Species of coral

Agaricia agaricites, commonly known as lettuce coral or tan lettuce-leaf coral, is a species of colonial stony corals in the family Agariciidae. This coral is found in shallow waters in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The IUCN has assessed its status as being Vulnerable.

<i>Oulophyllia</i> Genus of stony corals

Oulophyllia is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. Members of this genus are native to the tropical western and central Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Oulophyllia crispa</i> Species of coral

Oulophyllia crispa, sometimes called the intermediate valley coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is native to the tropical western and central Indo-Pacific region. Although this coral has a wide range, it is generally uncommon and seems to be decreasing in abundance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "near threatened".

<i>Diploastrea</i> Genus of corals

Diploastrea is the only genus of corals in its monotypic family, Diploastreidae, containing the extant Diploastrea heliopora(Lamarck, 1816) and the extinct Diploastrea polygonalis(Martin, 1880).

Horastrea is a monotypic genus of stony coral in the family Coscinaraeidae. It is represented by the single species Horastrea indica, the blister coral. It is native to the southwestern Indian Ocean where it is found in shallow water sandy reefs. It was first described by M Pichon in 1971. It is an uncommon coral and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being a "vulnerable species".

<i>Astreopora myriophthalma</i> Species of coral

Astreopora myriophthalma, sometimes known as porous star coral, is a species of hard coral found in shallow water in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is a common species with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<i>Astreopora listeri</i> Species of coral

Astreopora listeri is a species of hard coral found in shallow water in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is an uncommon species with a wide range and is tolerant of turbid water, making it more resilient than some other corals to habitat disturbance. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

<i>Stylophora madagascarensis</i> Species of coral

Stylophora madagascarensis is a species of stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. It is native to the tropical western Indian Ocean where it is confined to the coasts of Madagascar, growing in shallow water.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 DeVantier, L.; Hodgson, G.; Huang, D.; Johan, O.; Licuanan, A.; Obura, D.O.; Sheppard, C.; Syahrir, M.; Turak, E. (2014). "Diploastrea heliopora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T133231A54218331. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133231A54218331.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hoeksema, Bert (2016). "Diploastrea heliopora (Lamarck, 1816)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  3. "Diploastrea Brain Coral". Blue Zoo Aquatics. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  4. "Honeycomb Coral: (Diploastrea heliopora)". EDGE. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. Hoeksema, Bert (2016). "Diploastrea Matthai, 1914". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  6. 1 2 台灣石珊瑚誌. 國立臺灣大學出版中心. 2009. p. 155. ISBN   978-986-01-8745-8.

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