AGRRA-Coral-ID-Part

Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 2 Meandroid, Solitary and “Flower” Corals

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 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)

© 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.

How differs from C. natans: wider grooves in the ridges polyp mouths not connected by septa

colonies are smaller when fully grown

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

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

M. areolata D. labyrinthiformis MARE DLAB Which is Which?

D. labyrinthiformis C. natans DLAB CNAT Which is Which?

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)

shallow/high light: deep/low light: mounds or thick crusts massive plates in water

How differs from D. labyrinthiformis, C. natans and M. areolata: groove along ridge tops is very narrow and often indistinct narrower valleys

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

flat or lumpy crusts © C. Sheppard found in shallow depths only

© 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

has killed PAST

killing PAST

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?

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*

* 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)

Close-up © K. Marks

How lumpy colonies differ from lumpy P. clivosa: wider valleys wider ridges with larger septa polyps more likely to be visible by day

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

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

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

© 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

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

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

How differs from M. aliciae and M. ferox: mounds or inverted cones, not thick crusts or plates septal margins not raised around polyp mouths colonies are smaller when fully grown

Some colonies of Mycetophyllia resemble “intermediates” among these forms and species. + Ridges in some M. lamarckiana f. danaana* and M. aliciae are incredibly sub-divided.

If unsure of species identity, code as: Mycetophyllia MYCE

* Spelled daniana in earlier versions of Coral ID-2; danaana is reinstated as the proper spelling (V. Zlatarski and S. Cairns, pers. comm., August, 2012 ). Isophyllia sinuosa ISIN

fleshy polyps Close-up large ridges with ISIN distinct septal teeth short, deep valleys grey, green, yellow or brown; may have several colours or fluoresce small mounds (usually ~ 20 cm/8 in)

How differs: fleshier polyps polyp mouths not linked by septa

© B. Beck On the basis of recent molecular and morphological analyses, the genus Isophyllastrea has been synonymized with Isophyllia. See Budd et al., 2012 (reference given on final slide). Isophyllia rigida IRIG distinct septal teeth very short, irregularly IRIG shaped valleys, with 1-3 polyp mouths (really not meandroid) ridge tissues often tan or brown, valleys pale or white small mounds (to ~ 20 cm/8 in)

How similar to I. sinuosa: very fleshy polyps large septal teeth thin groove along ridge tops How different: shorter valleys different colour patterns © K. Marks Which is Which?

M. lamarckiana complex I. rigida I. sinuosa MLAM IRIG ISIN Scolymia SCOL

All species: solitary polyps, occasionally have more than one mouth large septal teeth

© K. Marks Scolymia cubensis SCUB Scolymia cubensis SCUB* teeth may be visible beneath tissues SCUB* brown, green or grey; may have lighter stripes or streaks, or fluoresce SCUB* (to ~ 10 cm/4 in) © K. Marks aggressive spatial SCUB* competitor

of Scolymia wellsi. © K. Marks Scolymia lacera SLAC very fleshy polyps with “warts” over the very large septal teeth SLAC pale or opaque, grey, green, blue-green or brown; may be lighter over the septa (to ~ 15 cm/6 in) very aggressive spatial competitor

How differs from S. cubensis: larger, more fleshy polyps duller colours more aggressive spatial competitor

S. lacera S. cubensis SLAC SCUB Mussa angulosa MANG large, fleshy polyps are alive only at tops MANG of “stalks” large septal teeth opaque greys, greens, yellow- browns often mottled, sometimes fluoresce pinks or reds © K. Marks (to ~ 1 m/3 ft) very aggressive spatial MANG competitor

How similar to M. angulosa: stalked polyps only alive at tips How differs: polyps are smaller and less fleshy colours are uniformly pale septa lack teeth

E. fastigiata M. angulosa EFAS MANG References

Budd, A.F., H. Fukami, N.D. Smith and N. Knowlton. 2012. Taxonomic classification of the reef coral family Mussidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166: 465-529.

Pinzón C, J.H. and E. Weil. 2011. Cryptic species within the Atlantic Caribbean genus Meandrina (Scleractinia): a multidisciplinary approach and description of the new species Meandrina jacksoni. Bulletin of Marine Science 87:823-853.