anemone coral
Goniopora planulata
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Tomas Cedhagen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tomas Cedhagen
Overview
Goniopora planulata is a hard coral species belonging to the family Poritidae, characterized by its distinctive flower-like polyps with numerous tentacles that extend during feeding. This colonial coral forms rounded or dome-shaped structures with a porous skeleton, displaying colors ranging from brown to green depending on its symbiotic zooxanthellae. As a reef-building coral, it plays a crucial role in creating habitat structure for diverse marine communities and contributing to coral reef ecosystem health.
Goniopora planulata faces significant threats from ocean warming and acidification, which cause coral bleaching and reduce calcification rates essential for skeletal growth. Coastal development, pollution, and destructive fishing practices further degrade reef habitats, while the species' slow growth and reproduction rates limit recovery potential from disturbances.
Habitat
Shallow tropical coral reef environments in the Indo-Pacific, typically found in lagoons and reef flats at depths of 1-20 meters where water clarity and light penetration support symbiotic zooxanthellae. Prefers areas with moderate water flow and stable substrate for colony attachment.
Other threatened species in Poritidae
Threatened in Djibouti
Frequently asked questions
Why is anemone coral classified as Vulnerable?
Where does anemone coral live?
What are the main threats to anemone coral?
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