species: Hydnophora exesa in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Radiata > Cnidaria > Anthozoa > Anthozoa > Hexacorallia > Scleractinia > Faviina > Merulinidae > Hydnophora > Hydnophora exesa (gallery)
Hydnophora exesa


©Ryan McMinds: Hydnophora exesa at Lizard Island 

©Ryan McMinds: Hydnophora exesa at Lizard Island

©Ryan McMinds: Hydnophora exesa at Lizard Island

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Scleractinia
Family Merulinidae
Genus Hydnophora
Species Hydnophora exesa
Status near threatened

Distinguishing features

The genus Hydnophora is distinguished by "monticules", 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

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

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.
  • Dornelas, M. (2006). Coral assemblages and neutral theory. PhD thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 1626.
  • Dornelas, M. and S.R. Connolly (2008). Multiple modes in a coral species abundance distribution, Ecology Letters, 11: 1008-1016. LIRS catalog number 1145.
  • View all references