Halofolliculina corallasia
| Halofolliculina corallasia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Heterotrichea |
| Order: | Heterotrichida |
| Family: | Folliculinidae |
| Genus: | Halofolliculina |
| Species: | H. corallasia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Halofolliculina corallasia Antonius and Lipscomb, 2001[1]
| |
Halofolliculina corallasia is a species of
This species is so far the only known agent causing skeletal eroding band, the most common disease of corals in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and also found in the Red Sea. A very similar disease was later discovered in the Caribbean Sea, but is caused by a different species of the same genus and occurs in a different type of environment.
Description
Halofolliculina corallasia was first observed in reefs near Motupore Island in Bootless Inlet, Papua New Guinea in 1988,[1] and named in 2001. The species name corallasia is a combination of "coral" and the Greek word lasios (λάσιος), which means "densely overgrown". H. corallasia is a member of the ciliate group of protozoans.[1] Ciliates are among the most complex of single-celled eukaryote organisms, distinguished by three characteristics.[2] First, it reproduces both by
Heterotrichs, which are among the largest protozoans, have a spiral of polykinetids around their "mouths". These are groups of
Skeletal Eroding Band
Skeletal Eroding Band, the most common disease of corals in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and also found in the Red Sea,[6] is the first recorded disease of corals that is caused by a protozoan, and the first caused by a eukaryote – most are caused by bacteria.[1] The disease is visible as a black band that slowly advances over corals, leaving dead coral in its wake. It is spread by cell division of Halofolliculina corallasia, which produces a pair of worm-like larvae that settle on undamaged coral just ahead of the black band. There each secretes its lorica, at the same spinning to produce the lorica's flask-like shape. This spinning, combined with the chemicals that harden the lorica, crumble the coral skeleton and kill the polyps.[1] The discarded loricae of the "parent" H. corallasia cells remain, leaving a spotted region in the wake of the living black band. This distinguishes Skeletal Eroding Band from Black band disease,[1] which leaves a completely white dead area behind it.[7] H. corallasia is the first protozoan and the first eukaryote that is known to cause a disease in corals.[1]
A survey in the Caribbean Sea conducted in 2004 and published in 2006 reported a disease with very similar symptoms as SEB, affecting 25 species of coral within 6 families. Although the authors initially suspected H.corallasia, more detailed examination showed that the culprit was another species that was previously unknown and has not yet been formally named, although it is clearly a member of the same genus, Halofolliculina.[8] A follow-up analysis noted that the Caribbean infestations were most common in oceanic waters, while those in the Indian and Pacific Oceans were more prevalent in coastal waters. Its authors therefore gave this new manifestation the name "Caribbean ciliate infection".[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Antonius, Arnfried A.; Lipscomb, Diana (2001). "First Protozoan Coral-killer identified in the Indo-Pacific" (PDF). Atoll Research Bulletin (481). Smithsonian Institution: 1–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4020-8238-2. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ISBN 0-03-025982-7.
- ^ Little, W.; Fowler, H.W.; Coulson, J.; Onions, C.T. (1964). "Lorica". Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
- ^ S2CID 25104122. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- ISBN 3-540-20772-4. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
- S2CID 9896965.