Pillar coral Med (Madracis pharensis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Madracis pharensis
- Common name
- Pillar coral Med
- Category
- Corals
- Family
- Pocilloporidae
- Genus
- Madracis
- Size
- 5–30 cm
- Depth
- 1–80 m
- IUCN status
- Near threatened (NT)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, cave
- Behaviours
- sessile, colonial, filter-feeder
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Madracis pharensis reaches 30 cm colonies. Hard coral (Scleractinia, Pocilloporidae) Mediterranean and temperate East Atlantic, one of the rare important scleractinians in Mediterranean (with Cladocora and Astroides). Colonies in upright pillars or plates yellow-orange to brown-orange with transparent extractile polyps. Lives from 1 to 80 m on hard substrates, overhangs and caves of coralligenous Mediterranean. Listed NT by IUCN following Mediterranean heat waves causing bleaching. Wide-angle photo subject for orange colonies against dark rocks.
Photo of Pillar coral Med
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Pillar coral Med?
- Pillar coral Med (Madracis pharensis) reaches 5–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Pillar coral Med?
- Pillar coral Med is found between 1–80 m deep.
- Is the Pillar coral Med dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Pillar coral Med?
- IUCN status: Near threatened (NT).
- Where can you find the Pillar coral Med?
- Found in: Caribbean, East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Pocilloporidae
- Stylophora pistillata - Smooth cauliflower coral
- Seriatopora hystrix - Bird's nest coral
- Pocillopora damicornis - Cauliflower coral
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 135212)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2259490)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia