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AGRRA-Coral-ID-Part Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 2 Meandroid, Solitary and “Flower” Corals © K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks Revision: 2013-05-22 Judith Lang Images in this presentation are Copyright © by Ken Marks, New World Publications and by other photographers. Copyright © Ocean Research & Education Foundation Permission is granted to use this Powerpoint presentation for educational purposes with the AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for other valid educational purposes. All other uses are strictly prohibited. For images used in Part 2, our special thanks to: B. Beck, H. Cummins, B. Grayson, E. Hickerson/FGBNMS, P. Humann, R. McCall, C. Sheppard, R. Steneck, T. Turner, E. Weil Reminder: What to Look for Underwater Colony shape – massive (= mound, columnar, heavy plates), crust, plate, branching Colony size range – small to big Colony surface – bumpy, smooth, ridged Polyp size – small to big Polyp shape – round, elliptical, irregular, Y-shaped Polyp colour – brown, tan, yellow, olive, green, red Septal shape – fat, thin; smooth, toothed Adapted from P.R. Kramer Reminder: AGRRA Coral Species The stony corals illustrated here are limited to species found in the wider Caribbean at depths (<20 m) typical of most AGRRA surveys. The names of some of these corals are changing as a result of modern research. More taxa are added as we gain underwater photographs of species that are rare and/or of geographically limited distributions. Expect periodic updates! Photographers who can enhance this collection are encouraged to contact Judy Lang at: [email protected] or [email protected] For each species: (# in m and ft) = maximum colony size Remember: Coding Corals in AGRRA Surveys Use the CARICOMP-based coral codes. The coral code for a genus (or occasionally a species complex) is the first 4 letters of its genus name and should be used whenever you are unsure of a coral’s species identity: MEAN = Meandrina The coral code for a species is the first letter of the genus name followed by the first 3 letters of its species name: MJAC = Meandrina jacksoni Codes are shown before names appear on the introductory slide for species that are commonly recorded in AGRRA surveys. Meandroid Corals colonies have interconnected polyp mouths in valleys that are separated by ridges © K. Marks Colpophyllia natans CNAT Colpophyllia natans CNAT narrow grooves along the tops, and midway CNAT down the sides, of the ridges ridges have narrow septa narrow septa connect polyp mouths © K. Marks Colpophyllia natans CNAT tissues may have two colours or two shades of one colour; may have stripes on ridges; valleys may be fluorescent © K. Marks shallow/high light: mounds largest of the deep/low light: meandroid corals thick plates (to ~ 3 m/10 ft) © R. Steneck © T. Turner Manicina areolata* MARE distinct grooves in ridge tops Close-up vertical ridge sides MARE free-living or attached yellow-brown, grey or green; may have lighter patches in ridge tops (to ~ 20 cm/8 in) *Attached colonies on reefs are also known as Manicina mayori (MMAY) or as M. areolata f. mayori. © K. Marks Manicina areolata MARE How differs from C. natans: wider grooves in the ridges polyp mouths not connected by septa © K. Marks colonies are smaller when fully grown © K. Marks Which is Which? © B. Grayson © K. Marks C. natans M. areolata CNAT MARE Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB prominent groove along Close-up the top of the ridges–can DLAB be deeper or wider than the valleys! tan to brown colours, valleys may fluoresce DLAB © K. Marks © K. Marks Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB examples of variation in meander pattern and tissue colour rounded mounds (to ~ 1 m/>3 ft) © K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks © R. McCall Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB How differs from Close-up M. areolata: narrower valleys grooves in all ridges, can be much deeper and wider tentacles often partially expanded by day © K. Marks colonies are larger when fully grown © K. Marks Which is Which? © P. Humann © K. Marks M. areolata D. labyrinthiformis MARE DLAB Which is Which? © K. Marks © K. Marks D. labyrinthiformis C. natans DLAB CNAT Which is Which? © K. Marks © K. Marks D. labyrinthiformis D. stokesi DLAB DSTO (see Coral ID-1) On the basis of recent molecular and morphological analyses, Diploria strigosa and D. clivosa have been reclassified as species in a new genus called Pseudodiploria. See Budd et al., 2012 (reference given on final slide). Pseudodiploria strigosa PSTR groove along ridge tops is very narrow and often PSTR indistinct yellow-brown, green, brown or bluish grey; valleys may be lighter or fluoresce mounds, thick crusts or massive plates (to ~2 m/6 ft) © K. Marks Pseudodiploria strigosa PSTR shallow/high light: deep/low light: mounds or thick crusts massive plates in water © C. Sheppard © E. Hickerson Pseudodiploria strigosa PSTR How differs from D. labyrinthiformis, C. natans and M. areolata: groove along ridge tops is very narrow and often indistinct narrower valleys © K. Marks © K. Marks Which is Which? © B. Grayson © B. Grayson © K. Marks © K. Marks D. labyrinthiformis C. natans M. areolata P. strigosa DLAB CNAT MARE PSTR Pseudodiploria clivosa PCLI narrow ridges lack grooves PCLI shallow, narrow valleys yellow-brown, green, brown or bluish or grey; valleys may be lighter than ridges, a different colour, © B. Grayson or fluoresce PCLI © K. Marks Pseudodiploria clivosa PCLI flattened or irregular, lumpy crusts (usually ~ 1 m/>3 ft; sometimes larger) shallow depth range © K. Marks Pseudodiploria clivosa PCLI How differs from C. natans and P. strigosa: smaller ridges lack grooves smaller valleys septa are thinner and more numerous flat or lumpy crusts © C. Sheppard found in shallow depths only © K. Marks © K. Marks Which is Which? © K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks P. strigosa P. clivosa C. natans PSTR PCLI CNAT Meandrina meandrites MMEA wide ridges with large, Close-up MMEA thick septa deep, narrow valleys pale yellow to dark orange or dark brown MMEA © R. McCall © E. Weil Meandrina meandrites MMEA thick plates or crusts, mounds, or short columns (to ~ 1 m/3 ft) very aggressive towards most other corals has killed PAST killing PAST © H. Cummins © K. Marks Meandrina meandrites MMEA How small, attached* corals differ from small attached M. areolata: thick ridges with large, thick septa deep narrow valleys in which narrow septa connect polyp mouths *The small, elongate, free- living (unattached) corals that inhabit sand or seagrass meadows are now called Meandrina danae (see Pinzón and Weil, 2011). © K. Marks Which is Which? © K. Marks © C. Sheppard M. meandrites M. areolata MMEA MARE Meandrina jacksoni MJAC* low, narrow ridges with short, thick, MJAC* widely spaced septa wide, shallow valleys white tentacles usually conspicuous MJAC* © K. Marks * A new species described by Weil and Pinzón in Pinzón and Weil, 2011 (reference given on final slide). © K. Marks Meandrina jacksoni MJAC usually pale cream or pale yellow mounds, thick plates or crusts, short columns or irregular shapes (to > 1 m/3 ft) © E. Weil © K. Marks © K. Marks Meandrina jacksoni MJAC How differs from M. meandrites shallower, wider valleys lower, narrower ridges, with lower, and more widely spaced, septa © K. Marks polyps more likely to be visible by day Close-up © K. Marks © K. Marks © K. Marks Meandrina jacksoni MJAC How lumpy colonies differ from lumpy P. clivosa: wider valleys wider ridges with larger septa polyps more likely to be visible by day © K. Marks Which is Which? © K. Marks M. meandrites M. jacksoni MMEA MJAC Which is Which? © K. Marks © P. Kramer M. jacksoni P. clivosa MJAC PCLI Dendrogyra cylindrus DCYL tall columns above a massive base DCYL polyps are usually expanded by day tan, yellow-brown to dark brown (to > 3 m/10 ft) Close-up DCYL © C. Sheppard © K. Marks Dendrogyra cylindrus DCYL How differs from Meandrina spp. polyps are usually fully expanded by day very deep, narrow valleys ridges usually wide and flat on top colonies are much larger when fully grown © K. Marks Which is Which? © K. Marks © K. Marks M. jacksoni D. cylindrus M. meandrites MJAC DCYL MMEA Mycetophyllia MYCE Close-up All species: polyp mouths connected by septa with distinct teeth © K. Marks Mycetophyllia aliciae MALC Mycetophyllia ferox MFER thick crusts or plates withnarrow ridges that fork, subdividing MFER some of the narrow valleys raised septal margins around polyp mouths dull or fluorescent colours (to ~ 60 cm/2 ft) Close-up MFER aggressive towards © E. Weil many other corals © B. Grayson Mycetophyllia ferox MFER examples of variation in extent of ridge development and of tissue colour: dull greys, green, yellow-brown or brown; mouths may be paler or fluorescent pink, orange or red © K. Marks © K. Marks © E. Weil © K. Marks Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI thick crusts or plates some wide valleys; ridges MALI radiate away from the colony center brown, green, yellow-brown or yellow-green; may have white or pale green spots or lines on ridges and on the raised septal margins around the mouths (to ~ 75 cm/30 in) © E. Weil Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI examples of variation in extent of ridge development and tissue colour © C. Sheppard © K. Marks © K. Marks Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI How similar to M. ferox: thick crusts and plates raised septal margins around polyp mouths How differs: taller ridges that rarely intersect, and wider valleys; all radiating away from the colony center brighter colours © K. Marks Which is Which? © K. Marks M. ferox M. aliciae MFER MALI Mycetophyllia lamarckiana complex MLAM mounds or inverted cones septal margins not raised around polyp mouths MLAM MLAM brown, yellow-brown, grey or green; ridges may be pale (to ~ 40 cm/16 in) © K. Marks MLAM MLAM MLAM © E. Weil © K. Marks Mycetophyllia lamarckiana complex MLAM forma danaana forma lamarckiana may be coded as MDAN Seen from above © K.
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