Stony Coral – Acropora solitaryensis

, Stony Coral, Acropora solitaryensis
Depth: 2 - 30 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf

Acropora solitaryensis, commonly known as Stony Coral, is a species of coral found in diverse marine environments. This coral plays a crucial role in the health and balance of these ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and providing habitat for numerous marine organisms.

Description & Characteristics

Acropora solitaryensis is characterized by its distinctive appearance. Its colonies typically display a branching structure, with individual polyps forming intricate patterns across its surface. The coral’s coloration can vary, ranging from pale hues to vibrant shades of orange, brown, or even green, depending on its location and environmental conditions. Stony Corals can reach significant sizes, with colonies potentially growing up to several meters in diameter.

Habitat and Occurrence

Stony Coral, Acropora solitaryensis, thrives in a range of marine habitats, including subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zones of the oceans. These zones extend from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. It’s commonly found in neritic zones, which are characterized by relatively shallow waters extending from the coastline to the shelf edge.

Taxonomy

Acropora solitaryensis belongs to the Class: Hexacorallia, Order: Scleractinia, and Family: Acroporidae. Hexacorallia encompasses a diverse group of corals with six-fold symmetry in their polyps. The Order Scleractinia includes the stony corals, characterized by their hard skeletons. The Family Acroporidae contains a significant number of branching coral species, including Acropora solitaryensis.

Feeding

Acropora solitaryensis exhibits a unique feeding strategy, relying on a combination of sources: Plankton and Zooxanthellae.

Stony Corals capture tiny plankton from the surrounding water through their polyps. This method provides a direct source of food. Additionally, they maintain a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called Zooxanthellae. These algae reside within the coral’s tissues and produce energy through photosynthesis using sunlight. This symbiotic relationship provides a supplementary food source for the coral and contributes to its vibrant coloration.

Associated Species

Image References

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