Australogyra zelli is a species of stony coral native to the Central Indo-Pacific. It is the only species in the genus Australogyra. They are uncommon corals found in tropical waters to a range of up to 30 m (98 ft) deep. They can occur as branching growths or as hemispherical shapes reaching up to 2 m (6.6 ft) in diameter. Their color ranges from gray-green to a yellowish purple-brown. They are also sometimes known as the branching moon coral or the branching brain coral in the aquarium trade.[3][4][5] The species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] Their range includes Australia, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, southern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.[6][7]

Australogyra
Australogyra zelli from Aureed Island, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Faviidae
Genus: Australogyra
Veron & Pichon, 1982
Species:
A. zelli
Binomial name
Australogyra zelli
(Veron, Pichon & Best, 1977)
Synonyms[2]
  • Platygyra zelli Veron, Pichon & Best, 1977

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Australogyra zelli: DeVantier, L., Hodgson, G., Huang, D., Johan, O., Licuanan, A., Obura, D., Sheppard, C., Syahrir, M. & Turak, E.: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T133620A3831999". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1 January 2008. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T133620A3831999.en.
  2. ^ Hoeksema, B. W.; Cairns, S. (2024). "Australogyra zelli (Veron, Pichon & Best, 1977)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Australogyra zelli". Corals of the World. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ Stender, Keoki; Stender, Yuko. "Australogyra zelli". MarinelifePhotography.com. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ^ Adams, Jake (1 July 2015). "Australogyra zelli, the magnificent branching moon coral". ReefBuilders. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  6. ^ Glenn, C.R. (2006). "Australogyra zelli". Earth's Endangered Creatures. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ Palomares, M.L.D.; Pauly., D. " Australogyra zelli (Veron, Pichon & Best, 1977)". SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 21 January 2024.