Gold coral (Savalia savaglia)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Savalia savaglia
- Common name
- Gold coral
- Category
- Corals
- Family
- Parazoanthidae
- Genus
- Savalia
- Size
- 50–300 cm
- Depth
- 15–1000 m
- IUCN status
- Near threatened (NT)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky, reef
- Behaviours
- sessile, colonial, parasitic
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Savalia savaglia forms large vivid-yellow to orange branching colonies up to 3 m tall, spectacular on Mediterranean coralligenous drop-offs. Unique biological mechanism: starts as a parasite by colonizing and slowly killing a host gorgonian, then builds its own horny skeleton around it. Very slow growth (1 cm/year), millennia-old colonies. IUCN Near Threatened. Icon of Mediterranean diving.
Photo of Gold coral
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Gold coral?
- Gold coral (Savalia savaglia) reaches 50–300 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Gold coral?
- Gold coral is found between 15–1000 m deep.
- Is the Gold coral dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Gold coral?
- IUCN status: Near threatened (NT).
- Where can you find the Gold coral?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the family Parazoanthidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 383014)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 4339663)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia