Stony Coral – Goniastrea pectinata

, Stony Coral, Goniastrea pectinata
Depth: 0 - 40 m

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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, Yellow Sea

Stony Coral – Goniastrea pectinata is a species of coral found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a common and widespread species, known for its distinctive appearance and ecological importance.

Description & Characteristics

Goniastrea pectinata is a colonial coral, meaning it forms colonies composed of numerous individual polyps. These polyps are typically small, measuring a few millimeters in diameter. They are characterized by their distinctive, comb-like septa, which are the vertical plates that divide the polyp’s body cavity. The coral colonies can grow to be quite large, with some individuals reaching over a meter in diameter. They exhibit a variety of colors, ranging from brown and gray to green and yellow, often with bright orange or red polyps.

Habitat and Occurrence

Goniastrea pectinata is a highly adaptable coral species and can be found in a wide range of habitats. It is most commonly found in shallow water, in the subtidal, sublittoral, and infralittoral zones. These zones extend from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth, encompassing the neritic zone. They prefer areas with strong currents and abundant sunlight. This coral can also tolerate a wide range of temperatures and salinities, making it a resilient species.

Taxonomy

Goniastrea pectinata belongs to the Class: Hexacorallia, Order: Scleractinia, and Family: Merulinidae. This classification places it within a group of corals characterized by having six-sided symmetry and possessing a hard skeleton made of calcium carbonate.

Feeding

Goniastrea pectinata is a heterotrophic organism and relies on a combination of feeding methods. Like many other corals, it harbors symbiotic zooxanthellae within its tissues. These single-celled algae provide the coral with energy through photosynthesis, which is particularly important in shallow water environments with ample sunlight. The coral, in turn, provides the zooxanthellae with a safe and stable environment. However, Goniastrea pectinata also feeds on plankton, which it captures using its tentacles. This provides additional nutrients and allows the coral to thrive in environments with lower light levels.

Associated Species

Image References

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