| Goniopora columna | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Poritidae |
| Genus: | Goniopora |
| Species: | G. columna |
| Binomial name | |
| Goniopora columna Dana, 1846 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Goniopora columna is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Poritidae. [2]
This species is native to the western and eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf, Australia, South-east Asia, Japan and East China Sea.
It can be found in Australia, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, Guam, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique. Myanmar, New Caledonia, Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen. [1]
This reef-associated species occurs in tropical shallow waters and in sheltered, sandy or lagoon environments, at depths of 2 to 15 m. It may also occur in turbid waters. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "Near Threatened". These corals appear moderately susceptible to bleaching, especially in turbid waters, which can help to protect them. [1]
This species develops hemispherical or irregular columnar mound shaped colonies with a neat appearance and dead basal parts. The color of the polips may be yellow, brown or green, usually with different color in the oral discs.
The diameter of the small and rounded calices ranges from about 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in), with a uniform bundle of tentacles. The columellae are rather large and long. The living polyps can reach a length up to 10 cm (3.9 in). [3] [4] [5]
This species is quite similar to Goniopora stokesi and Goniopora lobata . It differs from the other two especially for the columnar shape of the colonies and for the large light-colored oral disc.
Like most corals, Goniopora columna reproduce asexually. They usually feed on plankton. Mature gametes are spawned through the mouth. The zygote develops into a planktonic planula larva. [6] [7]
Goniopora, often called flowerpot coral, is a genus of colonial stony coral found in lagoons and turbid water conditions. Goniopora have numerous daisy-like polyps that extend outward from the base, each tipped with 24 stinging tentacles which surrounds a mouth.
Pavona cactus, the cactus coral, potato chip coral or leaf coral, is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Agariciidae. This coral is found in shallow waters on reefs and in lagoons in tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific region.
Anomastraea is a monotypic genus of corals in the family Coscinaraeidae. It is represented by a single species, the crisp pillow coral.
Acropora microphthalma is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean. It is also found in the Line Islands. It occurs in shallow tropical reefs on upper reef slopes, in turbid water and in sandy lagoons. It can be found from depths of 5–25 m.
Alveopora allingi 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, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean. It has also been found in Palau and the Mariana Islands. It is susceptible to coral bleaching and is rated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a "vulnerable species".
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.
Alveopora spongiosa 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 Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean. It can be found on protected upper coral reef slopes, generally from depth of 9–20 m, but can grow at depths of up to 50 m. It is moderately susceptible to coral bleaching, and is harvested for the aquarium trade.
Alveopora verrilliana is a species of stony coral that is found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea, the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean and the Johnston Atoll. It can also be found in Palau and the southern Mariana Islands. It grows on shallow coral reefs to a depth of 30 metres (100 ft). It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching and is harvested for the aquarium trade.
Alveopora viridis is a species of stony coral that has a highly disjunct range, and can be found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the northern Indian Ocean and in Palau and the Mariana Islands. It is found on lower coral reef slopes to depths of 50 m. It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching and is harvested for the aquarium trade.
Goniastrea retiformis is a species of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. It is native to shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region.
Paragoniastrea australensis, also known as the lesser star coral, is a species of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. It occurs in shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region.
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".
Turbinaria peltata, 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".
Turbinaria frondens, commonly known as disc coral, is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. It is a zooxanthellate coral that houses symbiont dinoflagellates in its tissues.
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".
Oxypora lacera, the ragged chalice coral or porous lettuce coral, is a species of large polyp stony corals in the family Lobophylliidae. It is a colonial coral which can be submassive, encrusting or laminar. It is native to the western Indo-Pacific.
Goniopora stokesi is a species of colonial stony coral. As with other species in genus Goniopora, it has the common names 'flowerpot coral' and 'daisy coral'. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorises its status as near threatened.
Goniopora tenuidens is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Poritidae. It occurs in shallow water in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Dipsastraea pallida is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This is a common species of coral with a widespread distribution, and the main threat it faces is from the destruction of its coral reef habitats. It is rated as a "least-concern species" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This species was first described in 1846 as Favia pallida by the American zoologist James Dwight Dana; it was later transferred to the genus Dipsastraea, but some authorities continue to use the original name.
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