Hexacorallia |
Scleractinia |
Merulinidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Reef-associated; depth range 1 - 15 m (Ref. 100937). Tropical; 36°N - 27°S, 34°E - 180°E (Ref. 847)
Indo-Pacific.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 100.0 cm WD male/unsexed; (Ref. 269)
Colonies form large plates covered with thin, high collines that form radiating valleys. The plates may be more than 1 m in diameter while the colonies may reach several centimeters in height. Corallites are widely spaced with septocostae continuous between them (Ref. 269). Zooxanthelate (Ref. 19).
Maximum depth from Ref. 98471. Common from below the reef flat to the limit of coral growth (Ref. 269). Also in lower reef slopes and turbid water (Ref. 98471). Has high bleaching level and high estimated mortality in Palau (Ref. 66144).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hermaphroditic (Ref. 113712). Mature gametes are shed into the coelenteron and spawned through the mouth. Life cycle: The zygote develops into a planktonic planula larva. Metamorphosis begins with early morphogenesis of tentacles, septa and pharynx before larval settlement on the aboral end (Ref. 833).
Hodgson, G. 1998 Corals. p. 101-122. In Carpenter, K.E. and V.H. Niem (eds) FAO species identifidication guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 1. Seaweeds, coral, bivalves and gastropods. FAO Rome. (Ref. 269)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Human uses
| FishSource |
Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
Population dynamicsGrowthMax. ages / sizesLength-weight rel.Length-length rel.Length-frequenciesMass conversionAbundance PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 25.2 - 29.3, mean 28.7 (based on 2397 cells).
Fishing Vulnerability
High vulnerability (60 of 100).
Price category
Unknown.