Herpolitha limax
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Hexacorallia
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Fungiidae
Genus
Herpolitha
Species
Herpolitha limax
Status
least concern
Colours
Distinguishing features
A fungid coral that forms an elongate skeleton up to 30 cm long. Multiple mouths are formed along the axial furrow. Septal teeth are fine, and few septa extend from the axial furrow to the edge of the colony. The skeleton may split to form Y or X shaped colonies. Colour is typically brown.
Size
- Up to 30 cm (length)
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
genus: Ctenactis
Ctenactis species have large, evenly-spaced teeth on the septa (see Ctenactis echinata) that are not present or as pronounced in Herpolitha limax.
Comments
Herpolitha limax is currently the only recognised species in this genus (WORMS accessed 17 Jan 2015).
by Anne Hoggett
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Reef fronts, lagoons.
Can be found in most habitats around Lizard Island.
Behaviour
H. limax is a broadcast spawning hermaphrodite.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Veron, J.E.N. (2000). Corals of the World Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
Other references
- 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.
- Dinesen, Z.D. (1983). Shade-dwelling corals of the Great Barrier Reef, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 10: 173-185. LIRS catalog number 157.
- View all references