Dipsastraea maritima

(Nemenzo, 1971)

Vernacular names
English : Maritima head coral
French : Corail ananas géant

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

Identification
The species grows in relatively small massive colonies with very big cylindrical corallites with high walls. Crowded costae with uniform septa. Coloration usually dark brown or green, rarely with clear oral disks.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa to Marshall Islands, north to South Japan, south to North Australia. Lives around reef slopes in turbid water areas and muddy bottoms, to 30 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a huge range but is nowhere common. It is possibly threatened by habitat loss but it has apparently never been common.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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