Caulastraea echinulata

(Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849)

Vernacular names
English : Candy cane coral
French : Corail trompette

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

Identification
Colonies can reach a diameter of more than 30 cm. Branching skeleton with fleshy corallites around 1 cm in diameter. Mantle is fleshy and soft looking. Coloration is generally tan to brown, often with light green oral disks.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific region, from Andaman Islands to New Caledonia, north to South Japan, south to North Australia. Lives in turbid water areas, protected from wave action, to 18 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is heavily collected and globally uncommon. Climatic changes leading to acidification and warming of water is a serious threat for corals.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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