Heterocyathus aequicostatus

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Heterocyathus aequicostatus
Heterocyathus aequicostatus 2.jpeg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Caryophylliidae
Genus: Heterocyathus
Species:
H. aequicostatus
Binomial name
Heterocyathus aequicostatus
Synonyms [2]
List
    • Brachytrochus simplex Duncan, 1876
    • Heterocyathus cochlea (Spengler, 1781)
    • Heterocyathus japonicus (Verrill, 1866)
    • Heterocyathus lamellosus (Verrill, 1865)
    • Heterocyathus oblongatus Rehberg, 1892
    • Heterocyathus philippinensis Semper, 1872
    • Heterocyathus roussaeanus Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848
    • Heterocyathus rousseaui (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857)
    • Heterocyathus woodmasoni Alcock, 1893
    • Psammoseris rousseaui Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851
    • Stephanoseris japonicus Verrill, 1866
    • Stephanoseris lamellosa Verrill, 1865
    • Stephanoseris rousseaui Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851

Heterocyathus aequicostatus is a small species of coral in the family Caryophylliidae in the order Scleractinia, the stony corals. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. It is a large polyp, solitary, free-living coral and is usually found on soft substrates.

Contents

Description

Heterocyathus aequicostatus is a small, solitary, free-living coral with a flat base. The polyp sits in a roughly circular corallite (stony cup) which has up to four cycles of toothed septa (stony ridges) radiating from it, making 48 septa in total. These continue over the rim of the corallite as prominent costa (ridges) down to the smooth, flat base. This coral grows to a maximum diameter of 1.5 cm (0.6 in) and is a pale brown colour, often with a pale green oral disc. [1] [3]

Distribution and habitat

Heterocyathus aequicostatus is native to the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific region, its range extending from Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula to Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines and Japan. It is found at depths of at least 20 m (66 ft) and sometimes down to 100 m (330 ft) on level or gently sloping sandy or gravelly shelves between reefs. [3]

Ecology

Sipunculid worm Aspidosiphon muelleri inside H. aequicostatus Heterocyathus aequicostatus, Aspidosiphon muelleri.jpeg
Sipunculid worm Aspidosiphon muelleri inside H. aequicostatus

This coral sometimes harbours photosynthetic, single-celled dinoflagellates called Zooxanthellae in its tissues. The polyps extend their tentacles at night to feed, normally remaining retracted by day. The larvae are planktonic, and when fully developed they are attracted to settle on the shells of tiny gastropod molluscs, gradually enveloping the molluscs as they grow into juvenile corals. [3]

In Australia, this coral often lives in symbiosis with the sipunculid worm, Aspidosiphon muelleri . [3] The worm often has an entrance hole on the oral disc through which it can extend its introvert to feed. Another hole in the base of the coral is used by the worm to move the coral about on the sandy seabed, preventing the coral from becoming buried. [3]

Status

In general coral reefs are being degraded, and although this coral is a common species, it is likely that its populations are in decline along with their habitats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed H. aequicostatus as being of "least concern" as it considers that the rate of decline in its populations is not sufficient to justify listing it in a more threatened category. [1]

Related Research Articles

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

Stylophora pistillata, commonly known as hood coral or smooth cauliflower coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region and is commonly used in scientific investigations.

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

Lobophyllia corymbosa, also known as lobed cactus coral or brain root coral, is a species of large polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae. It occurs on reefs in shallow waters in the Red Sea, off the coast of East Africa, and in other parts of the tropical Indo-Pacific.

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

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<i>Cynarina lacrymalis</i> Species of coral

Cynarina lacrymalis is a species of stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae. It is variously known as the flat cup coral, solitary cup coral, button coral, doughnut coral, or cat's eye coral. It is found in the western Indo-Pacific Ocean and is sometimes kept in reef aquaria.

<i>Dipsastraea speciosa</i> Species of coral

Dipsastraea speciosa is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

<i>Turbinaria peltata</i> Species of cnidarian

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".

<i>Favites pentagona</i> Species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae

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<i>Coelastrea aspera</i> Species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae

Coelastrea aspera is a species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is a colonial species native to the Indo-Pacific region where it occurs in shallow water. It was first described by the American zoologist Addison Emery Verrill in 1866 as Goniastrea aspera but it has since been determined that it should be in a different genus and its scientific name has been changed to Coelastrea aspera. This is a common species throughout much of its wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

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<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>Blastomussa merleti</i> Species of coral

Blastomussa merleti, commonly known as pineapple coral, is a species of large polyp stony coral. It is unclear in which family the genus Blastomussa belongs. This coral is native to the west and central Indo-Pacific region and is sometimes used in reef aquaria.

<i>Heliofungia actiniformis</i> Species of coral

Heliofungia actiniformis is a solitary species of mushroom coral, a large polyp stony coral in the family Fungiidae. This coral is found in shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a zooxanthellate species. It is a popular coral in the reef aquarium trade; wild populations are threatened by disease, climate change, and over-collecting, and the species is considered vulnerable by the IUCN.

<i>Manicina areolata</i> Species of coral

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<i>Oxypora lacera</i> Species of coral

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.

<i>Echinophyllia aspera</i> Species of coral

Echinophyllia aspera, commonly known as the chalice coral, is a species of large polyp stony corals in the family Lobophylliidae. It is a colonial coral which is partly encrusting and partly forms laminate plates or tiers. It is native to the western and central Indo-Pacific.

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<i>Dipsastraea pallida</i> Species of coral

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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<i>Cycloseris distorta</i> Species of disc coral

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Hoeksema, B.; Rogers, A.; Quibilan, M. (2008). "Heterocyathus aequicostatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T133431A3742172. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T133431A3742172.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Hoeksema, Bert (2014). "Heterocyathus aequicostatus Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Heterocyathus aequicostatus". Coral fact sheets. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2019.