Branched sandpaper coral (Psammocora contigua)

Description

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Branched sandpaper coral fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Branched sandpaper coral description

The colonies of the branched sandpaper coral (Psammocora contigua) grow in a variety of shapes depending on water movements, variously forming a mixture of flattened branches, columns, irregularly-shaped nodules, fused plates and branches, or even sometimes occurring as free-living, mobile balls ^{(3) (4) (5) (6)}. Colonies are usually pale to dark greyish-brown in colour ^{(3) (4) (5) (6)}, and may reach about 10 centimetres in height ^{(5) (7)} and up to 50 centimetres in diameter ⁽⁵⁾. Like all corals, the colonies of the branched sandpaper coral are composed of numerous tiny, soft-bodied, anemone-like animals called polyps, which in many corals secrete a hard skeleton, with the individual skeleton of a polyp being known as a ‘corallite’ ⁽³⁾. In the branched sandpaper coral, the inward projections of the corallite (the ‘septa’) have granulated margins ^{(3) (4) (5)}, which may give this coral its common name, as it is reported to have a coarse, sandpaper-like surface ⁽⁷⁾. However, the fine, shallow corallites generally give the colony a smooth outward appearance ^{(3) (4) (5) (6)}.

Also known as

dark green contigua, green stony pillar coral, pillar coral.

Branched sandpaper coral biology

The branched sandpiper coral is a zooxanthellate coral, obtaining most of its nutrients from microscopic algae, known as zooxanthellae, which live within its tissues. The zooxanthellae provide the coral with nutrients through photosynthesis, in return receiving a safe and stable environment in which to live ^{(3) (8)}. The branched sandpaper coral is also able to supplement its diet with tiny zooplankton, caught using stinging cells on the numerous tentacles which surround the central ‘mouth’ of each polyp ⁽³⁾. In the branched sandpaper coral, the tentacles are usually only extended for feeding at night ^{(3) (4)}.

Like other corals, the branched sandpaper coral is able to reproduce asexually in a process known as ‘budding’, in which polyps divide to form new polyps. Corals are also able to reproduce sexually, usually by releasing large numbers of sperm and eggs into the water column. The fertilised eggs develop into larvae, which eventually settle on the substrate and develop into polyps ⁽³⁾. Although little specific information is available for the branched sandpaper coral, other Psammocora species are reported to reproduce in this way, and to have two separate sexes (individuals in a colony are either all male or all female) ⁽⁹⁾.

Branched sandpaper coral range

The branched sandpaper coral is widespread throughout the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, as well as occurring in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf ^{(1) (3) (4) (5) (6)}.

Branched sandpaper coral habitat

The branched sandpaper coral is common in a range of shallow reef environments, although it is usually found over a soft substrate ^{(3) (4) (5) (6)}, generally to depths of around 30 metres ⁽¹⁾.

Branched sandpaper coral status

The branched sandpaper coral is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽²⁾.

Branched sandpaper coral threats

Although it is common over a range of reef environments ^{(1) (3) (4)}, the branched sandpaper coral is under threat from habitat loss, collection for the aquarium trade, and coral bleaching, in which elevated water temperatures cause the coral to expel its zooxanthellae, often resulting in death ⁽¹⁾. Bleaching also leaves corals weakened and more vulnerable to disease, which is emerging as a serious threat to coral reefs worldwide ^{(1) (11)}. Climate change is also a major threat, as it may lead to raised sea temperatures and so more severe bleaching events, as well as to more frequent, damaging storms, while increasing ocean acidity may also negatively affect corals. The branched sandpaper coral is also likely to be affected by many of the more localised threats to reefs, including sedimentation, pollution, destructive fishing practices, invasive species and increasing human development ^{(1) (8) (10) (11)}.

Branched sandpaper coral conservation

Like all corals, the branched sandpaper coral is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that international trade in this species should be carefully regulated ⁽²⁾. Parts of the branched sandpaper coral’s range also lie within Marine Protected Areas ⁽¹⁾, although enforcement within these can often be poor ⁽⁸⁾, and currently less than half a percent of all marine habitats are officially protected ⁽¹²⁾. In addition to tackling global climate change, recommended conservation measures for corals include further research, population monitoring, research into coral diseases, reef restoration efforts, and the expansion of protected areas ^{(1) (8) (11)}. With an estimated 20 percent of reefs already lost ⁽¹¹⁾ and a third of reef-building corals at risk of extinction ⁽¹⁰⁾, the need to conserve coral reefs is now urgent if these important and diverse ecosystems are to survive ⁽¹¹⁾.

Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is a principal sponsor of ARKive. EAD is working to protect and conserve the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

To find out more about corals and coral conservation, see:

• Reef Check:
  http://www.reefcheck.org/
• The Coral Reef Alliance:
  http://www.coral.org/
• Veron, J.E.N. (2000) Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.

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Glossary

Algae

Simple plants that lack roots, stems and leaves but contain the green pigment chlorophyll. Most occur in marine and freshwater habitats.

Colony

A group of organisms living together. Individuals in the group are not physiologically connected and may not be related, such as a colony of birds. Another meaning refers to organisms, such as bryozoans, which are composed of numerous genetically identical modules (also referred to as zooids or ‘individuals’), which are produced by budding and remain physiologically connected.

Fertilisation

The fusion of gametes (male and female reproductive cells) to produce an embryo, which grows into a new individual.

Larvae

Stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

Photosynthesis

Metabolic process characteristic of plants in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.

Polyp

Typically sedentary soft-bodied component of cnidaria, a group of simple aquatic animals including the sea anemones, corals and jellyfish. A polyp comprises a trunk that is fixed at the base, and a mouth that is placed at the opposite end of the trunk and is surrounded by tentacles.

Septa

In a coral, radial elements that project inwards from the corallite wall (the skeletal wall of an individual coral polyp).

Zooplankton

Tiny aquatic animals that drift with currents or swim weakly in water.

References

1. IUCN Red List (November, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. CITES (November, 2010)
   http://www.cites.org/
3. Veron, J.E.N. (2000) Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.
4. Veron, J.E.N. (1993) Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
5. Dai, C.F. and Horng, S. (2009) Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan. II. The Robust Group. National Taiwan University Press, Taipei, Taiwan.
6. Al Abdessalaam, T.Z. (2007) Marine Environment and Resources of Abu Dhabi. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi.
7. Coles, S.L. (1996) Corals of Oman. CYK Publications, Muscat, Oman. Available at:
   http://www.bishopmuseum.org/research/pbs/Oman-coral-book/
8. Miththapala, S. (2008) Coral Reefs. Coastal Ecosystems Series (Volume 1). Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group Asia, IUCN, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Available at:
   http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2008-012.pdf
9. Glynn, P.W. and Colley, S.B. (2008) Survival of brooding and broadcasting reef corals following large scale disturbances: is there any hope for broadcasting species during global warming? Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 7-11 July 2008, Session number 11, 1: 368-372.
10. Carpenter, K.E. et al. (2008) One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts. Science, 321: 560-563.
11. Wilkinson, C. (2008) Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Center, Townsville, Australia. Available at:
    http://www.gcrmn.org/status2008.aspx
12. UNEP: Fifty Key Facts about Seas and Oceans (November, 2010)
    http://www.unep.org/wed/2004/Downloads/PDFs/Key_Facts_E.pdf