Euphyllia ancora

Euphyllia ancora is a species of hard coral in the family Euphylliidae.[1] It is known by several common names, including anchor coral and hammer coral, or less frequently as sausage coral, ridge coral, or bubble honeycomb coral.[2]

Euphyllia ancora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Euphylliidae
Genus: Euphyllia
Species:
E. ancora
Binomial name
Euphyllia ancora
Veron & Pichon, 1980
Synonyms
  • Fimbriaphyllia ancora (Veron & Pichon, 1980)

Description

This type of madreporial colony is easy to identify because of its puffy tubular tentacles with T-shaped tips. The coral is blue-gray to orange in color, sometimes with green on the tentacles. It can demonstrate full or partial viral infection of green fluorescent protein, a trait highly sought for aquarium specimens. Colonies are usually no more than a meter across, but at times can reach several meters.[3]

  • Gold
  • Green
  • Neon green
  • Grey

Distribution and habitat

The anchor coral is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific area from the Maldives to the Salomon Islands with a large presence in Indonesia.[2] It is common in some areas, but it faces several threats that have reduced its overall population. It is overharvested for the aquarium trade. Its coral reef habitat is also degraded and destroyed in many areas.[1]

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References
  1. Turak, E., Sheppard, C. & Wood, E. 2008. Euphyllia ancora. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. Downloaded on 03 September 2014.
  2. (in French) Lamare, V. and P. Scaps. Euphyllia ancora Veron & Pichon, 1980. In: Données d'Observations pour la Reconnaissance et l’Identification de la faune et de la flore Subaquatiques (DORIS).
  3. Euphyllia ancora. AIMS Coral Fact Sheets. Australian Institute of Marine Science.


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