anemone coral
Goniopora cellulosa
Goniopora cellulosa 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, cellular skeleton that gives it its species name.
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Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Poritidae
Genus
Goniopora
anemone coral belongs to the family Poritidae, order Scleractinia, within the Anthozoa class.
Species Profile
Goniopora cellulosa 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, cellular skeleton that gives it its species name. 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 cellulosa 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 rate limits its ability to recover from disturbances.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits shallow tropical coral reef environments in the Indo-Pacific, typically found on reef slopes and lagoons at depths ranging from 5 to 30 meters. It prefers areas with moderate water flow and clear, warm waters with stable salinity levels.
Threats
Climate change and ocean warming
Coastal development and sedimentation
Ocean acidification
Destructive fishing practices
Water pollution and nutrient runoff
Found in 1 Country
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). anemone coral (Goniopora cellulosa). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/anemone-coral-2260459