| Scolymia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scolymia cubensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Mussidae |
| Genus: | Scolymia Haime, 1852 |
| Species | |
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Scolymia, commonly called scoly coral, is a genus of large-polyp stony corals (Scleractinia). These animals are believed date back to the Miocene with three extant species present in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. [1] [2]
Unlike most other Scleractinia, Scolymia are solitary corals. Polyps can grow up to 10 cm in diameter. Morphology is diverse with both interspecific and intraspecific variation in shape. [3] Polyps may be concave, convex, or flat depending on the species and environmental conditions. Species are generally distinguished based on differences in septa number, thickness, and orientation. [3] Scoly corals range from brown to bright fluorescent greens, reds, and purples.
Members of this genus are commonly found in reef aquariums because of their slow growth, [2] however separation from other corals is necessary due to intense competition. [4] The slow growth rate of these corals is not well understood, but researchers have proposed that cyanobacterial mats may inhibit their growth or even cause shrinkage. [2] [5]
Scolymia harness their energy mainly through a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellate, a group of photosynthetic dinoflagellates. To a lesser degree, these corals can also feed heterotrophically using their tentacles to catch plankton drifting through the water at night. [2] [3]
All Scolymia species are located in the Atlantic Ocean along the east coast of the Americas between Florida, through the Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico, and as far south as Brazil. [2] [4] At higher latitudes, Scolymia tends to grow faster compared to at lower latitudes, likely as a result of annual mean temperature differences. [5] Scoly corals are typically found at the base of a reef between 10-80 m deep where there are turbid waters with low-light conditions. [6] Scolymia anchor in soft substrates where sediment continuously accumulates. They have adapted sediment-shifting abilities by growing upward on nearly-vertical surfaces in addition to a mucus exterior that prevents sedimentation from above. [2] This adaptation has allowed Scolymia to fill an ecological niche in which other corals are not able to survive.
Scoly corals have a unique ability to avoid both disease and predation from coralivorous fishes. The reasons for this are still largely unknown, however, it is believed that their bold colors may deter predators. [5] [2]
According to the IUCN Red List, the conservation status of Scolymia cubensis [7] and Scolymia lacera [8] is Critically Endangered, and Scolymia wellsii is Vulnerable. [9] While there are no specific known threats to Scolymia, corals in general are sensitive to rising temperatures brought on by climate change, resulting in coral bleaching. It is possible that Scolymia, relatively deep habitat preference helps protect it from temperature-related damage.
Some scoly corals are known to exhibit interspecific aggression by attacking both congeneric species and other corals, causing them to expel their zooxanthellates. Generally, S. lacera defeats and kills S. cubensis . [1] [4] [10]
Scolymia reproduce sexually through broadcast spawning. Because of their lack of immune-recognition, it is possible for gametes from the same individual to fertilize each other, resulting in less genetic diversity. [1] Fertilized planktonic larvae drift through the current before settling on a reef bed.
When two or more Scolymia cubensis larvae settle near one another, they usually fuse together to form one complex coral with distinct genotypes. [1]
The World Register of Marine Species includes the following species in the genus:
Other species were previously classified under Scolymia but have since been reclassified to distinct genera:
Montastraea is a genus of colonial stony coral found in the Caribbean seas. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Montastraeidae and contains a single species, Montastraea cavernosa, known as great star coral. It forms into massive boulders and sometimes develops into plates. Its polyps are the size of a human thumb and fully extend at night.
Brain coral is a common name given to various corals in the families Mussidae and Merulinidae, so called due to their generally spheroid shape and grooved surface which resembles a brain. Each head of coral is formed by a colony of genetically identical polyps which secrete a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate; this makes them important coral reef builders like other stony corals in the order Scleractinia. Brain corals are found in shallow warm water coral reefs in all the world's oceans. They are part of the phylum Cnidaria, in a class called Anthozoa or "flower animals". The lifespan of the largest brain corals is 900 years. Colonies can grow as large as 1.8 m (6 ft) or more in height.
The Staghorn coral is a branching, stony coral, within the Order Scleractinia. It is characterized by thick, upright branches which can grow in excess of 2 meters in height and resemble the antlers of a stag, hence the name, Staghorn. It grows within various areas of a reef but is most commonly found within shallow fore and back reefs, as well as patch reefs, where water depths rarely exceed 20 meters. Staghorn corals can exhibit very fast growth, adding up to 5 cm in new skeleton for every 1 cm of existing skeleton each year, making them one of the fastest growing fringe coral species in the Western Atlantic. Due to this fast growth, Acropora cervicornis, serve as one of the most important reef building corals, functioning as marine nurseries for juvenile fish, buffer zones for erosion and storms, and center points of biodiversity in the Western Atlantic.
Mussidae is a family of stony coral in the order Scleractinia. Following a taxonomic revision in 2012, the family is now restricted to species found in the Atlantic Ocean, with Pacific species transferred to the new family Lobophylliidae. Many species are referred to as brain coral because their generally spheroid form and grooved surface resembles the convolutions of a brain.
The Fungiidae are a family of Cnidaria, commonly known as mushroom corals or plate corals. The family contains thirteen extant genera. They range from solitary corals to colonial species. Some genera such as Cycloseris and Fungia are solitary organisms, Polyphyllia consists of a single organism with multiple mouths, and Ctenactis and Herpolitha might be considered as solitary organisms with multiple mouths or a colony of individuals, each with its separate mouth.
Porites astreoides, commonly known as mustard hill coral or yellow porites, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Poritidae.
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.
Favia fragrum is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Mussidae. It is commonly known as the golfball coral and is found in tropical waters on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Scolymia lacera, the fleshy disk coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It occurs on reefs in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and southern Florida.
Porites porites, commonly known as hump coral or finger coral, is a species of stony coral in the genus Porites. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean and also along the coast of West Africa.
Porites furcata, commonly known as hump coral, thin finger coral or branched finger coral, is a species of stony coral in the genus Porites. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean.
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 mostly 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.
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.
Stylaraea is a genus of marine stony corals in the family Poritidae. It is a monotypic genus and the only species is Stylaraea punctata. This coral is native to shallow tidal pools in tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Astrangia poculata, the northern star coral or northern cup coral, is a species of non-reefbuilding stony coral in the family Rhizangiidae. It is native to shallow water in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is also found on the western coast of Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists this coral as being of "least concern". Astrangia poculata is an emerging model organism for corals because it harbors a facultative photosymbiosis, is a calcifying coral, and has a large geographic range. Research on this emerging model system is showcased annually by the Astrangia Research Working Group, collaboratively hosted by Roger Williams University, Boston University, and Southern Connecticut State University
Madracis auretenra, commonly known as the yellow finger coral or yellow pencil coral, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. It is a fairly common species and is found in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean. At one time this species was not recognised, but it was split from Madracis mirabilis on the grounds of morphology and depth range.
Euphylliidae are known as a family of polyped stony corals under the order Scleractinia.
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.
Scolymia cubensis is a solitary coral that belongs the genus Scolymia. It is a smooth disk coral whose shape usually consists of a flat, concave form (patellate) or an inverted cone form. However, a cylindrical shape may occur. They have a maximum diameter of 10 cm and have a symbiotic bond with zooxanthellae. Despite this, S. cubensis do not create their own reefs. Their colors normally consist of light green, light beige or a deep rusty red.