Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies 11: 91-100(2009) Original paper Delineating the Coral Triangle J.E.N. VERON1, 2, *, Lyndon M. DEVANTIER1, 2, Emre TURAK1, 2, Alison L. GREEN3, Stuart KININMONTH2, Mary STAFFORD-SMITH1, and Nate PETERSON3 1 Coral Reef Research, 10 Benalla Road, Oak Valley, Townsville 4811, Australia 2 Australian Institute of Marine Science, MSO Townsville 4811, Australia 3 The Nature Conservancy, 51 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane 4101, Australia * Corresponding author: J.E.N. Veron Email:
[email protected] Communicated by Makoto Tsuchiya Abstract Spatial analyses of coral distributions at spe- Introduction cies level delineate the Coral Triangle and provide new insights into patterns of diversity and endemism around “If we look at a globe or a map of the Eastern Hemi the globe. This study shows that the Coral Triangle, an sphere, we shall perceive between Asia and Australia a area extending from the Philippines to the Solomon number of large and small islands, forming a connected Islands, has 605 zooxanthellate corals including 15 re- group distinct from those great masses of land and having gional endemics. This amounts to 76% of the world’s total little connexion with either of them. Situated upon the species complement, giving this province the world’s equator, and bathed in the tepid water of the great tropical highest conservation priority. Within the Coral Triangle, oceans, this region enjoys a climate more uniformly hot highest richness resides in the Bird’s Head Peninsula of and moist than almost any other part of the globe, and Indonesian Papua which hosts 574 species, with indi- teems with natural productions which are elsewhere vidual reefs supporting up to 280 species ha−1.