Hydnophora exesa
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Hexacorallia
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Merulinidae
Genus
Hydnophora
Species
Hydnophora exesa
Status
near threatened
Colours
Distinguishing features
The genus Hydnophora is distinguished by "monticules" or hydnophores, conical mounds in the skeleton. In Hydnophora exesa, the monticules are prominent (5-8 mm diameter), giving the colony a characteristically rough appearance. Tentacles are of uniform length and can be extended day and night. Colonies of variable form including encrusting, laminar, arborescent and submassive, sometimes several forms in the same colony. (Veron, 2000)
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
species: Hydnophora microconos
has much smaller hydnophores (2-3 mm diameter), less variation in colony form, and tentacles are not usually extended during the day.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Veron, J.E.N. (2000). Corals of the World: Volume 2 Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
Other references
- Babcock, R.C., G.D. Bull, P.L. Harrison, A.J. Heyward, J.K. Oliver, C.C. Wallace and B.L. Willis (1986). Synchronous spawnings of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef, Marine Biology, 90: 379-394. LIRS catalog number 300.
- Baird, A.H. (2001). The ecology of coral larvae: settlement patterns, habitat selection and the length of the larval phase, Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 716.
- View all references