species: Lithophyllon repanda in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Cnidaria > Anthozoa > Hexacorallia > Scleractinia > Fungiidae > Lithophyllon > Lithophyllon repanda (gallery)
Lithophyllon repanda


©Lyle Vail: Lithophyllon repanda at Eyrie Reef near Lizard Island. Identified by Dr Zoe Richards.

©Anne Hoggett: Lithophyllon repanda at High Rock near Lizard Island. Identified by Zoe Richards.

©Anne Hoggett: Lithophyllon repanda 10-12 cm diameter at Clam Garden, Lizard Island.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hexacorallia
Order Scleractinia
Family Fungiidae
Genus Lithophyllon
Species Lithophyllon repanda
Status least concern

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

         

Distinguishing features

A fungid coral that forms a round skeleton up to 30 cm diameter. Septal teeth are fine but visible. Colour is typically brown. Tentacles are often partially extended during the day. (Contributed by Andy Lewis)

Uneven circular polyp with a slightly exsert mouth, small teeth, pretty straight septa, tentacular lobes. Often with purple rim. (Contributed by Zoe Richards)

Size

  • Up to 30 cm (Diameter according to Veron, 2000.)

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Reef fronts, lagoons.

Can be found in most habitats around Lizard Island.

Behaviour

Lithophyllon repanda is a gonochoric broadcast spawner, however it can also reproduce asexually via budding of new individuals from the parent polyp. In Japanese populations from Okinawa, the species was shown to be protandrous. Research has been conducted into the UV absorbing compounds present in the mucus of this species, which appear to allow it to inhabit both deep and very shallow waters without damage. (Contributed by Dr Andy Lewis)

Web resources

References

  • Baird, A.H. (2001). The ecology of coral larvae: settlement patterns, habitat selection and the length of the larval phase, Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 716.
  • Baird, A.H., R.C. Babcock and C.P. Mundy (2003). Habitat selection by larvae influences the depth distribution of six common coral species. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 252: 289-293.
  • Baird, A.H., J.R. Guest and B.L. Willis (2009). Systematic and biogeographical patterns in the reproductive biology of scleractinian corals, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 40: 551-571.
  • View all references