Devonshire cup coral  (Caryophyllia smithii)

Listed on Appendix II of CITES (1).

The Devonshire cup-coral, Caryophyllia smithii, is a small, colourful coral that looks remarkably like a sea-anemone (3). The whitish, cup-shaped external skeleton, the 'corallum', has many curved ridges and makes up the rocky cylindrical base in which the soft body part (the polyp) is held (2) (4). The beautiful and delicate-looking polyp may be a range of colours, including red, pink, orange, white, green or brown, and a contrasting, more opaque colour zig-zags around the central, elongated, slit-like mouth (2) (3) (5). Up to 80 tentacles, arranged in three circles, rise from the soft body part, and each terminates in a prominent, spherical white or brown knob (2) (5) (6). Although generally solitary, the Devonshire cup coral can occasionally be found in clusters of two to four individuals (4), and a barnacle (Pyrgoma anglicum) is commonly found attached to the external skeleton (2).

The Devonshire cup coral can be found in south-west Europe, the Mediterranean, and in Britain, where it occurs around the south and west coasts, north to the Shetland Islands (2) (6).

This cool water coral is found in rocky areas attached to rocks, stones, shells and even artificial structures (2) (4). It is most abundant below the low tide line, down to depths of 200 metres (2), but may also be found on the shore in deep, shaded pools, as well as at depths down to 1,000 metres (4) (5).  

The Devonshire cup coral is a suspension feeder, relying on zooplankton and organic particles as a main food source, which are captured in the tentacles as they float past in the water (7).

Gametes develop within the adult corals between January and March, and are then discharged through the mouth of the polyp into the open sea water, where fertilisation takes place. The free-swimming larvae (or ‘planulae’) are fully formed after 48 hours, when feeding commences. After eight to ten weeks, the larvae are fully developed and ready to settle on the substrate and develop into adult corals (8).

Although the specific threats to the Devonshire cup coral are not clearly documented, the threats that coastal species face in Britain, and elsewhere, are clear. Species inhabiting rocky seabed areas in Devon, south-west England, are impacted by fishing activities (such as trawling and dredging), pollution, and recreational use (such as diving and boating) (9), and these threats are likely to be seen elsewhere throughout this cup coral’s range.    

There are currently no known specific conservation measures in place for the Devonshire cup coral. However, a number of conservation organisations are working to protect the marine life of Britain, the Mediterranean, and the rest of Europe (10) (11) (12).

To find out about marine conservation around Britain’s coasts see:

• Marine Conservation Society:
  http://www.mcsuk.org
• Natural England:
  http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/marine

 To learn about efforts to conserve the Mediterranean environment see:

• WWF:
  http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/mediterranean/