Pavona maldivensis

(Gardiner, 1905)

Vernacular names
English : Sunburst leaf coral
French : Agarice des Maldives

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

Identification
Colonies generally don’t grow bigger than 20 cm in diameter and height but exceptions do occur. The base can be leaf-like and encrusting and column-like extensions are formed. Light beige to bright orange. Corallites conspicuous.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, patchily, from East Africa and Red Sea to north Australia, South Japan and east to Baja California and Galapagos. Lives in shallow coral reefs with strong wave action, from 5 to 20 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a large range and seems safe for now but it faces long term threats with climate change, pollution and ocean acidification.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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