Homophyllia bowerbanki is a vulnerable species of coral found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This species is moderately common, but it is threatened by crown-of-thorns starfish predation and habitat loss.
| Homophyllia bowerbanki | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Lobophylliidae |
| Genus: | Homophyllia |
| Species: | H. bowerbanki
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| Binomial name | |
| Homophyllia bowerbanki (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851)[2]
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| Synonyms | |
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List
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Description
editHomophyllia bowerbanki is a small, encrusting coral but occasionally reach a diameter of over 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). The corallites are cerioid and have irregular shapes, and there is usually an obvious central one. The colour is often mottled and is generally reddish-brown, brown or grey. The corallites are irregularly shaped and may be arranged singly or in short valleys with continuous walls containing several corallites. The polyps are still fleshy when retracted.[3][4]
Distribution
editIt is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans from Australia to Japan and Kiribati.
Biology
editHomophyllia bowerbanki is a zooxanthellate species of coral.[2] It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbiotic dinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps.[5]
Status
editThis coral has a wide range is moderately common throughout its range. It is susceptible to attack by the crown of thorns starfish. The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats; increasing damage from extreme weather events, rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being "near-threatened species". All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Turak, E.; Sheppard, C.; Wood, E. (2014). "Acanthastrea hillae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T133106A54198491. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133106A54198491.en.
- ^ a b Hoeksema, Bert (2018). "Homophyllia bowerbanki Milne Edwards, 1857". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
- ^ "Acanthastrea bowerbanki". Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ^ "Acanthastrea hillae". Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ^ Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 122. ISBN 978-81-315-0104-7.
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