Micromussa lordhowensis

(Veron & Pichon, 1982)

Vernacular names
English : Lord Howe’s starry cup coral
French : Corail étoile de Lord Howe

Classification
Class : Anthozoa
Order : Scleractinia
Family : Lobophylliidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Massive colonies, usually not bigger than 50 cm across. Corallites are laterally compressed and usually held close together. Mantle on skeleton is thick and fleshy. Very colorful species, becoming orange, red or green with variable mottling.

Range and habitat
Indo-Pacific from Red Sea and East Africa to Mauritius, then from south Japan to Australia and Pacific Islands. Lives in shallow reefs, especially in subtropical regions, at depths down to 30 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is sometimes common but climatic changes leading to acidification and warming of water is a serious threat for stony corals in general.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “Corals, Gorgonians, Anemones and relatives” page