Heteropsammia cochlea

Heteropsammia cochlea
At Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, 17 metres depth
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Anthozoa
Order:Scleractinia
Family:Dendrophylliidae
Genus:Heteropsammia
Species: H. cochlea
Binomial name
Heteropsammia cochlea
(Spengler, 1781)
Synonyms
List
  • Heteropsammia aphrodes Alcock, 1893
  • Heteropsammia michelinii Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848
  • Heteropsammia ovalis Semper, 1872
  • Heteropsammia pisum Alcock, 1902
  • Heteropsammia rotundata Semper, 1872
  • Madrepora cochlea Spengler, 1781

Heteropsammia cochlea, also known as walking dendro, is a species of small solitary coral in the family Dendrophylliidae that is native to the Indo-Pacific area.

Description

This small solitary free-living coral is not fixed to the substrate which the diameter does not exceed 2.5 cm.[2] It has a very particular shape making it easily identifiable, composed of one or two corallites and has a figure of eight when observed from top. The base in contact with the bottom is relatively circular, depending on the nature of the substrate it is either flat or slightly keeled. The base has often an orifice that houses a commensal worm belonging to the family Aspidosiphonidae.[3] The overall color is yellowish, grayish or greenish. The polyp tentacles are observable well deployed especially at night.

Distribution & habitat

The walking dendro is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific area from the eastern coasts of Africa, Red Sea included, to Philippines and from southern Japan to Australia and New-Caledonia.[1][4]

This species likes flat bottom or even with a slight slope from one meter to 40 meters deep.[4]

Biology

The walking dendro is a common species that can be relatively abundant in some areas. It may sexually reproduce by gamete release or asexually by budding of a new individual from the "parent body". It is important to note that there is no apparent sexual dimorphism between males and females. When breeding occurs in open water, the larva has a first stage of planktonic life before landing and growth on the shell of a microgastropod that it will fully recover during growth.

To survive in its biotope and especially to avoid getting buried, this small coral has an obligate commensal relationship with a small tube worm, Aspidosiphon jukesi, which is lodged under the base of the coral.[4] The worm movements, in order to seek its food, allows the coral to avoid being buried. For cons, the coral is totally passive and dependent from its host travels. This small coral often has also a small parasitic mussel, Lithophaga lessepsiana.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Hoeksema, B., Rogers, A. & Quibilan, M. 2008. Heteropsammia cochlea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T133679A3861285. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T133679A3861285.en. Downloaded on 23 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Heteropsammia cochlea. Corals of the World - Photos, maps and information about corals and reefs". coral.aims.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
  3. ↑ LEON Virginie, PROUZET Anne, SCAPS Patrick, MITEL Cédric, in : DORIS, 21/3/2014 : Aspidosiphon muelleri Diesing, 1851, http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=589
  4. 1 2 3 LEON Virginie, MITEL Cédric, in : DORIS, 17/3/2014 : Heteropsammia cochleata (Spengler, 1781), http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=958
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