VUVulnerable

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.

1

Countries

01Classification

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.

02Description

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

IUCN StatusVulnerable (VU)
GroupCorals
03Habitat

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.

MARINEMajor
04Threats

Threats

Climate change and ocean warming

HighOngoing

Coastal development and sedimentation

HighOngoing

Ocean acidification

HighOngoing

Destructive fishing practices

MediumOngoing

Water pollution and nutrient runoff

MediumOngoing
06Range

Found in 1 Country

Community

Community Sightings

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07Sources

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

Full citation guide & data usage terms