Hawaiian gold coral
Hawaiian gold coral (Kulamanamana haumeaae) is a rare, extremely long-lived deep-sea coral found on seamounts near Hawaii. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Kulamanamana. One colony has been dated as 2,740 years old, while others are considered 5,000 years old.[1] Although it has been harvested commercially for use in jewellery for a long time, it was not formally described by taxonomists until 2012 when it was found to be related to both the genus Savalia and the octocoral-associated zoanthid, Corallizoanthus tsukaharai.[2]
| Hawaiian gold coral | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kulamanamana haumeaae | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Order: | Zoantharia |
| Family: | Parazoanthidae |
| Genus: | Kulamanamana Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013 |
| Species: | K. haumeaae |
| Binomial name | |
| Kulamanamana haumeaae Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013 | |
In jewelry
Gold coral is prized in jewellery making for its iridescent qualities which are similar to tiger's eye.[3]
The skeletons of such corals and the products made from them are highly valuable. However, unprocessed skeleton material is now rare as it is no longer commercially harvested in Hawaii. International trade therefore primarily consists of jewellery made from premoratorium stock, which may be decades old.[3]
References
- http://www.fws.gov/pacificremoteislandsmarinemonument/PP%20PRIMNM.pdf
- Sinniger F, Ocaña OV, Baco AR (2013), Diversity of Zoanthids (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) on Hawaiian Seamounts: Description of the Hawaiian Gold Coral and Additional Zoanthids. PLoS ONE 8(1): e52607. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052607
- Jewelry, Maui Divers. "Guide to Precious Corals".
Golden Spider Coral
Further reading
Sinniger, F. (2013). "Kulamanamana Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-02-13.