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Balanophyllia europaea

provided by wikipedia EN

Balanophyllia europaea, called also scarlet coral or pig-tooth coral, is a small species of stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae.

Description

Pig-tooth corals are solitary hard corals with an oval shape. They grow to 4 to 6 cm in diameter and 2 cm in height. The body colour goes from light brown to green-brown, the polyp has almost transparent beaded tentacles which can have some red to yellow spots due to the presence of symbiotic micro-algae.[3]

Distribution & habitat

This small madrepore is only found in the Mediterranean Sea. It likes shallow and bright underwater area and usually fixed itself on hard substrate like rocks, shells or other hard materials as deep as 50 m.[4]

Biology

This species likes shallow places because it is a photophilous species, that means it needs sunlight to maintain alive its symbiotic micro-algae.[4]

B. europaeas are simultaneous hermaphrodites and brooders that reproduce sexually once a year.[5] After fertilization takes place in May and April, B. europaeas release their larvae in September and October.[5] The 3 mm long planula larvae then settle after an average of seven days and begin to metamorphose into polyps and eventually full grown B. europaeas.[5]

References

  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea (Risso, 1826)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  2. ^ Goffredo, S.; Casado de Amezua, P.; Kružić, P. (2022). "Balanophyllia europaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T133085A165713140. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  3. ^ "DORIS - FFESSM - Biologie et plongée - Faune et flore sous-marines et dulcicoles". Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  4. ^ a b "Dent de cochon, Balanophyllia europaea".
  5. ^ a b c Bavestrello, G.; Caroselli, E.; Gizzi, F.; Goffredo, S.; Linares, C.L.; Ozalp, B. & Terrón-Sigler, A. (2015). "Balanophyllia europaea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T133085A75723638. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T133085A75723638.en.

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Balanophyllia europaea: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Balanophyllia europaea, called also scarlet coral or pig-tooth coral, is a small species of stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
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wikipedia EN

Biology

provided by World Register of Marine Species
zooxanthellate

Reference

van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).

license
cc-by-4.0
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WoRMS Editorial Board
contributor
Jacob van der Land [email]

Depth range

provided by World Register of Marine Species
0-50 m
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WoRMS Editorial Board
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Stephen Cairns [email]

Habitat

provided by World Register of Marine Species
shelf

Reference

van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).

license
cc-by-4.0
copyright
WoRMS Editorial Board
contributor
Jacob van der Land [email]