anemone coral
Goniopora burgosi
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Tomas Cedhagen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tomas Cedhagen
Overview
Goniopora burgosi is a hard coral species belonging to the family Poritidae, characterized by its distinctive flowerpot-like appearance with long, fleshy polyps that extend during feeding. This colonial coral forms rounded to dome-shaped structures with polyps that can extend several centimeters from the skeleton, creating a distinctive fuzzy appearance. As a reef-building coral, it plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by providing habitat structure for numerous fish and invertebrate species while contributing to coral reef framework construction.
Goniopora burgosi faces significant threats from ocean warming and acidification, which cause coral bleaching and reduce calcification rates essential for skeletal growth. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities further degrade water quality in shallow reef environments where this species occurs.
Habitat
Shallow tropical coral reef environments and lagoons, typically found in sandy or muddy substrates at depths of 5-30 meters. This species occurs in Indo-Pacific waters where it forms colonies on reef flats and protected coastal areas.
Other threatened species in Poritidae
Threatened in Japan
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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