''Herpolitha'' is a monotypic
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of mushroom
coral
Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and sec ...
s in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Fungiidae
The Fungiidae () are a family of Cnidaria, commonly known as mushroom corals or plate corals. The family contains thirteen extant genera. They range from solitary corals to colonial species. Some genera such as ''Cycloseris'' and ''Fungia'' ar ...
. The only member of the genus is ''Herpolitha limax'', commonly known as the tongue, slipper, mole or striate boomerang coral. It is a free-living species and is native to reefs and lagoons in the
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth.
In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...
region. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
has assessed this coral as being of "
least concern
A least-concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. T ...
".
Description
''Herpolitha limax'' has an elongated structure with somewhat rounded ends and a single, central, axial furrow that extends nearly from end to end. In the furrow are many conspicuous slit-like mouths and there are irregularly spaced, less-distinct mouths elsewhere. The primary
septa
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly 4 million people in five coun ...
are densely-toothed with fine spines and do not reach the edge of the colony. The
costae are low with crowded, obtuse teeth. Sometimes the furrow is forked and forms a "Y" shape, a "T" shape, or even an "X" shape. This coral can grow to a length of or more and is usually some shade of grey, brown or greenish-brown.
Distribution
''Herpolitha limax'' is native to the Indo-Pacific region, its range extending from East Africa and the Red Sea to Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the South Central Pacific. It is found on reef slopes and in lagoons, often in close proximity to ''
Fungia
''Fungia'' is a genus of corals in the family Fungiidae. It is monotypic with the single species ''Fungia fungites'', which is found growing on reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomy
Until 2015, the genus ''Fungia'' had more than 30 species, but b ...
'' spp.
[ at depths down to about .]
Ecology
''Herpolitha limax'' is a colonial, free-living, zooxanthella
Zooxanthellae is a colloquial term for single-celled dinoflagellates that are able to live in symbiosis with diverse marine invertebrates including demosponges, corals, jellyfish, and nudibranchs. Most known zooxanthellae are in the genus ''Symbi ...
te species of coral. Under stressful conditions it is susceptible to bleaching
Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color (whitening) from a fabric or fiber or to clean or to remove stains in a process called bleaching. It often refers specifically, to ...
and corals appear white after expelling their symbionts. In a period of high water temperature in Thailand in June 2010, bleaching was common and 52% of the corals of this species were affected, along with many other species of mushroom coral. By the following February, they seemed to have recovered with no trace of thermal-induced bleaching being present, and the species composition being similar to that before the bleaching event.
Status
''Herpolitha limax'' has a very wide range and is a common species in suitable habitats. The population trend is unknown but this coral is harvested for the reef aquarium
A reef aquarium or reef tank is a marine aquarium that prominently displays live corals and other marine invertebrates as well as fish that play a role in maintaining the tropical coral reef environment. A reef aquarium requires appropriately ...
trade, over 2,000 pieces being collected in 2005. Corals face threats associated with climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
but the International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
has assessed the conservation status of this species as being of "least concern
A least-concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. T ...
".
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q19885280, from2=Q3944266
Fungiidae
Monotypic cnidarian genera
Cnidarians of the Indian Ocean
Cnidarians of the Pacific Ocean
Fauna of the Red Sea
Marine fauna of Africa
Marine fauna of Asia
Marine fauna of Oceania
Marine fauna of Southeast Asia
Marine fauna of Western Asia