Catalaphyllia jardinei

(Saville-Kent, 1893)

Vernacular names
English : Elegance coral
French : Corail élégance

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

Identification
Colonies can reach a diameter of more than 30 cm. Branching skeleton, very large fleshy polyps with fleshy striped green oral disks. Conspicuous short purple-tipped tubular tentacles disposed on sides of oral disk.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa to Sri Lanka, then from south Japan to Indonesia, Australia and Lord Howe Island. Lives in protected reefs, mostly in turbid water, down to 40 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has suffered from overcollection. Climatic changes leading to acidification and warming of water is a serious threat for stony corals too.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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