Orange cup coral
Orange cup coral | |
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T. coccinea with tentacles withdrawn | |
Extended tentacles of T. coccinea | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Cnidaria |
Class: | Hexacorallia |
Order: | Scleractinia |
Family: | Dendrophylliidae |
Genus: | Tubastraea |
Species: | T. coccinea
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Binomial name | |
Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829
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Synonyms | |
List
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Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) belongs to a group of corals known as large-polyp stony corals. This non-reef building coral extends beautiful translucent tentacles at night.
Habitat
Tubastraea coccinea inhabits shaded vertical surfaces and caverns down to huge depths. Orange-cup-corals are also found in very cold water throughout the world. Orange-cup corals often dominate tropical habitats not occupied by other coral species, such as wrecks and cryptic reef habitats.[2] They also colonize artificial structures,[3] but experiments have demonstrated similar preferences for granite, cement, steel and tile.[4] In Brazil, they are most abundant in the shallow sub-tidal zone at shallow depths between 0m and 3m.[5]
Invasive introduction and range
Although Tubastraea coccinea is listed in the
Tubastraea coccinea is native to the Indo-Pacific region, it has been recorded at Sonadia Island, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh in 2013, by Marinelife Alliance, research organization. However, it has been introduced to the Atlantic, Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, and the West African region and Mediterranean Sea (Malta) as well.[6]
References
- ^ Hawaii Coral Reef Network. 2005. Family Dendrophyllidae: Cup Corals.
- ^ Vermeij 2006
- ^ Fenner and Banks 2004, Sammarco et al. 2004
- ^ Creed & De Paula 2007
- ^ De Paula & Creed, 2004, 2005, Creed 2006
- Encyclopedia of Life. "Details for: Orange Cup Coral". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
External links
- Encyclopedia of Life. "Details for: Orange Cup Coral". Encyclopedia of Life.
- Hawaii Coral Reef Network. "Family Dendrophyllidae: Cup Corals" (HMTL). Hawaii Coral Reef Network. Retrieved 15 February 2014.