| Isophyllia sinuosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Mussidae |
| Genus: | Isophyllia |
| Species: | I. sinuosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Isophyllia sinuosa (Ellis & Solander, 1786) [2] | |
| Synonyms | |
List
| |
Isophyllia sinuosa, the sinuous cactus coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It is found in shallow water in the tropical western Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
Isophyllia sinuosa is a massive coral that forms hemispherical or dome-shaped mounds up to 20 cm (8 in) across. On the coral surface there are shallow, meandering valleys about 22 mm (0.9 in) wide separated by convoluted ridges topped with a central, pale-coloured line. The polyps are large and are situated in the valleys, often in groups of three. Although they are usually retracted into their corallites by day, they are unable to retract completely, giving the coral a fleshy feel when touched. The septa that radiate from the corallites are spiny. At night, when the polyps are fully extended, the coral has a fuzzy appearance. The ridges and valleys are usually made up of contrasting colours. These combinations include green/yellow, green/blue, purplish-blue/white and two shades of brown. [3] [4]
Isophyllia sinuosa is found in the tropical west Atlantic. Its range includes the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, southern Florida, the Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas and Bermuda. It occurs on both back and fore reef slopes, on rocks, in lagoons and among seagrasses at depths down to about 15 metres (49 ft). [1] [3]
At night, the polyps of Isophyllia sinuosa extend their tentacles to feed on zooplankton. This coral is a zooxanthellate species, which means that it harbours symbiotic dinoflagellates (unicellular algae) in its tissues. These contain chlorophyll and can provide the coral with organic carbon compounds by photosynthesis. These are important to the coral and provide up to 50% of its nutrient requirements. A well-lit position is essential to zooxanthellate corals and Isophyllia sinuosa is one of the most aggressive corals, defending itself from the risk of being over-shadowed. It is reported to attack other corals or sponges in its close vicinity using an extracoelentric feeding mechanism in which specialised filament-like tentacles extend onto the living tissues of the neighbouring organisms, secreting enzymes which digest them in situ. [3]
Isophyllia sinuosa has a wide range but is generally an uncommon species. It is considered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to be of "Least Concern" as its population is believed to be stable. It is prone to bleaching, when a coral expels its zooxanthellae under stressful conditions, to black band disease, and to white plague. As a shallow water species it shares the threats posed to coral reefs in general which include a rise in sea temperatures, ocean acidification, coral diseases, storm damage, sedimentation, and human activities. [1]
Pillar coral is a hard coral found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Dendrogyra. It is a digitate coral -that is, it resembles fingers or a cluster of cigars, growing up from the sea floor without any secondary branching. It is large and can grow on both flat and sloping surfaces at depths down to 20 m (65 ft). It is one of the few types of hard coral in which the polyps can commonly be seen feeding during the day.
Porites astreoides, commonly known as mustard hill coral or yellow porites, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Poritidae.
Plerogyra sinuosa is a jelly-like species of the phylum Cnidaria. It is commonly called "bubble coral" due to its bubbly appearance. The "bubbles" are grape-sized which increase their surface area according to the amount of light available: they are larger during the day, but smaller during the night, when tentacles reach out to capture food. This species requires low light and a gentle water flow. Common names for Plerogyra sinuosa include "grape coral", bladder coral, and pearl coral. According to the IUCN, Plerogyra Sinuosa ranges from the Red Sea and Madagascar in the eastern Indian Ocean to Okinawa and the Line Islands in the Pacific.
Eusmilia is a genus of stony coral in the family Meandrinidae. It is a monotypic genus represented by the species Eusmilia fastigiata, commonly known as the smooth flower coral. It is found on reefs in the Caribbean Sea.
Siderastrea radians, also known as the lesser starlet coral or the shallow-water starlet coral, is a stony coral in the family Siderastreidae. It is found in shallow parts of the western Atlantic Ocean as small, solid mounds or encrusting sheets.
Pseudodiploria strigosa, the symmetrical brain coral, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It occurs on reefs in shallow water in the West Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It grows slowly and lives to a great age.
Pseudodiploria clivosa, the knobby brain coral, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It occurs in shallow water in the West Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Dichocoenia is a monotypic genus of stony coral in the family Meandrinidae. It is represented by a single species, Dichocoenia stokesii, which is commonly known as pineapple coral, elliptical star coral, or pancake star coral. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. Dichocoenia stokesii has irregular calyces and its form can be either a massive, hemispherical hump or a flat, platform-like structure.
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.
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.
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.
Acropora loripes is a species of branching colonial stony coral. It is common on reefs, upper reef slopes and reef flats in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its type locality is the Great Barrier Reef.
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".
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".
Favites pentagona is a species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae, sometimes known as larger star coral. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region and its range extends from the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific Ocean. This is a common species throughout its wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
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. It is a common species and the IUCN has assessed its status as being of "least concern".
Agaricia tenuifolia, commonly known as thin leaf lettuce coral, is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Agariciidae. This coral is found in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.
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".
Manicina areolata, commonly known as rose coral, is a colonial species of stony coral. It occurs in shallow water in the West Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, sometimes as small solid heads and sometimes as unattached cone-shaped forms.
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.
