Echinopora forskaliana

(Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849)

Vernacular names
English : Forskal’s chalice coral
French : Corail épineux de Forskal

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

Identification
The colonies are usually massive, sometimes forming plates near its edges, growing to above 30 cm in diameter. Conical corallites; 1 cm in diameter with regular septae forming crown. Coloration usually pink or brown, clear chalices.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in the western Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea and east African coasts to the Mascarene islands and central Indian Ocean. Found in most shallow coral reef environments, down to 20 m depth.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : This species is locally common in the wild but is potentially endangered by ocean acidification, coral reef destruction and habitat modification.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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