Isis hippuris
Bamboo Coral
©Andy: A colony of Isis hippuris at Watsons Bay showing the typical morphology. Polyps are retracted
©David Witherall and Leita Turnbull and Jasmine McCaul: Isis hippuris, Bamboo Coral, Mooring Bommie, Ocean Free, Green Island
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Alcyonacea
Family
Isididae
Genus
Isis
Species
Isis hippuris
Colours
Distinguishing features
Isis hippuris is the sole member of the genus, and it has an Indo-Pacific distribution. Colonies consist of smoothly branched structures arising from a solid base. Polyps are monomorphic and completely retractile, leaving the branches smooth. Colonies are usually a yellowish brown, but bright yellow, green, and brown specimens are seen.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Interesting facts
- This coral is one of those chemists. It creates chemicals that resist viruses, that stop certain cancer cells from growing and that will stop your body from resisting other chemicals or medicines.
Distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Sheltered back reef and lagoonal habitats.
Can be found in most reef habitats around Lizard Island, although is more common in sheltered, clear lagoonal environments.
Behaviour
It is known to have high concentrations of toxic organic compounds including poly-oxygenated sterols, which deter predators and also inhibit settlement and competition from other benthic organisms.
Web resources
References
- Fabricius, K.E. (1997). Soft coral abundance on the central Great Barrier Reef: effects of Acanthaster planci, space availability, and aspects of the physical environment, Coral Reefs, 16(3): 159-167.
- Fabricius, K. and P. Alderslade (2001). in: Soft corals and sea fans: a comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow water genera of the central-west Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
- González, N., M.A. Barral, J. Rodríguez and C. Jiménez (2001). New cytotoxic steroids from the gorgonian Isis hippuris: structure–activity studies, Tetrahedron, 57(16).
- View all references