Identifying corals
© Michael Pitts / www.naturepl.com
Identification of traded coral
This guide provides an introduction to the main groups of corals with hard skeletons that are common in trade, and assists in the identification of live specimens and cleaned skeletons to genus level. Nearly 3000 coral species are listed in the Convention on Trade in Endangered (CITES), most of which belong to the Order Scleractinia (stony corals). This guide covers the most commonly traded stony corals, as well as fire corals, lace corals, organ-pipe coral, blue coral, black corals and red corals. The further information section lists other more detailed identification guides, which provide information on genera not covered by this guide and aid identification to species level.
Corals may be traded as live specimens, skeletons, artefacts (such as jewellery
and carved ornaments) or as products such as 'coral rock' (a substrate made
of fragments of coral skeleton, used in aquaria). Definitions of coral products
and the level to which they need to be identified for CITES permits can be
found in Resolution
11.10.
How to use this identification guide
Illustration showing identification features for
stony corals, order Scleractinia |
Please note that this pilot guide covers only the most commonly traded stony corals. The main parts of live corals and coral skeletons used for the identification of stony corals (order Scleractinia) are illustrated above.
If you wish to confirm the identity of a coral specimen for which you have the name of please use the side menu on this page.
If you do not know the name of your coral specimen you can search by shape using the link below.
Can't find your coral here?
An online guide to Indo-Pacific corals in trade has been produced by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/ecosystem/coralid.htm#ID1
Further information
Borneman, E.H. (2001) Aquarium corals:Selection, Husbandry and Natural History. T.F.H. Publications. New Jersey, USA. ISBN: 1-890087-47-5
Bruckner, A. (1998). Guide to Indo-Pacific Corals in International Trade. Available Online (April 2002) http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR/coralidmanualfront.html
Bruckner, A. (2003) Stony coral identification. Available online (July 2003) http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/ecosystem/coralid.htm
Cairns, S.D., (1983) A Generic revision of the Stylasteridae (Coelenterata:
Hydrozoa) Part 1. Description of the genera. Bulletin of Marine Science
33 (2): 427-508
Corrochano, V. R. (1996) Guía de identificatión de conchas
y corales includios en el convenio de Washington. Ministerio de Comercio
y Turismo, Spain ISBN: 84-7415-289-0
Fabricius K and Alderslade P (2001) Soft Corals and Sea Fans: A comprehensive guide to the tropical shallow-water genera of the Central-West Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. AIMS, Townsville, Australia.
Hoeksema, B.W. (1989) Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) Zoologishe Verlhandelingen 254: 1-295
Oliver, J. K. (1986) Stony corals: Classes Hydrozoa and Anthozoa, In: CITES Identification manual, Gland, Switzerland.
Sheppard, C. R. C. (2002) Corals of the Indian Ocean. Sida, CD ROM
Veron, J.E.N, & Stafford-Smith, M. (2002) Coral ID. An electronic key to the zooxanthellate scleratinian corals of the world. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia CD ROM
Wallace, C. (1999) Staghorn Corals of the World :
A Revision of the Coral Genus Acropora (Book & CD-ROM). CSIRO, Collingwood,
Australia. ISBN: 0-643-063919
Wallace, C., and Aw, M. (2000) Acropora Staghorn
Corals: A "Getting to Know You" and Identification Guide. OceanNEnvironment,
Carlingford Court, NSW, Australia.
Wood, E. M., (1983). Reef corals of the world: biology and field guide. TFH Publications, New Jersey USA. ISBN: 0-876668-09-0