THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

extends feeding tentacles at night in search of
plankton and other organic particles.
Reproduction and Development: In the wild,
is a hemaphroditic brooder. Also produces
asexually, both in the wild and in captivity,
by polyp “bailout” like Pocillopora spp. (see
above).
Remarks: Hapalocarcinus marsupialis, a species
of gall-forming crab, has a most unusual
relationship with Seriatopora spp. The female
takes up residence within the branches of
the coral, and with her chelae, influences
the growing tips to grow a gall, or cage, that
effectively encloses her. Protected there for life
from most predators, she filter feeds on minute
particles and may also feed on the coral’s mucus
and/or tissue. The much smaller male crab can
enter the “bars” of her cage to mate. Pocillopora
and Stylophora, also pocilloporids, are hosts to
this crab as well.
Stylophora Coral
Stylophora sp. (Pocilloporidae)
Distribution: Red Sea and eastern African
coast and the Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Prefer reef fronts in high light and
strong currents, but found in many other
locations.
Appearance: Forms round clusters of thick
branches, usually with round, blunt ends.
Polyps are small, but easily seen. Colors range
from pink, green, purple to tan, and branch tips
are often a paler or contrasting color.
Diet: Depend on the products of their
zooxanthellae. Also, extend polyps to feed at
night in the wild; polyps may be visible day
and night in captivity.
Reproduction and Development: Like other
pocilloporids, is a hermaphroditic brooder
(though sperm and eggs develop at different
times). When mature larvae are released, they
can adhere to floating objects and develop
into new colonies that produce still more
larvae, a practice that accounts from the wide
distribution of some Stylophora species.
Remarks: Stylophora’s fast growth and ability
to thrive in many conditions make them good
research species. Because they have been
found to produce allelopathic chemicals, they
have been widely studied in immunological
research.
California Academy of Sciences
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Some damselfish species are known to shelter
within the branches of Stylophora. The fish gains
protection and the coral receives nutritional
benefit from the fish’s waste, shown by increased
growth and reproductive rates by corals engaged
in this mutualistic relationship.
Montipora Coral
Montipora spp. (Acroporidae)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific. A wide distribution
with a very large number of species, perhaps
70–80.
Habitat: Adaptable to a variety of habitats;
commonly found in the wild in shallow turbid
lagoons, reef crests, and deep waters. Their
tolerance for a variety of conditions seems to
make them a hardy group.
Appearance: Many growth forms, including
columnar, branching, encrusting, and plating.
Also a wide range of colors, including
bright pinks, oranges, purples, greens, and
blues. They are typically very small-polyped
corals.
Diet: Nutrition mostly provided by zooxanthellae.
Reproduction and Development: Sexual and
asexual.
Remarks: A relatively passive coral that is best
situated some distance from more aggressive
corals, such as Euphyllia spp.
Staghorn, Elkhorn and other Acropora Coral
Acropora spp. (Acroporidae)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean.
Habitat: Most commonly found in shallow reef
environments with bright light and relatively
strong currents. Often dominate shallow parts
of the reef, especially the surf zone.
Appearance: Growth forms extremely variable:
slender branched fingers, broad antlers,
table-like plates are common. Among the most
colorful of reef-building corals; may be cream,
yellow, blue, green, purple, pink, even fluorescent.
Polyps small; set along the branches.
Characterized by light-colored polyps at the
tips of branches where budding and growth
take place, fueled by the energy produced by
zooxanthellae in lower parts of the branch that
give it color.
Diet: Feed on microplankton, mostly at night;
significant nutrition provided by photosyn-