Wellington's solitary coral (Rhizopsammia wellingtoni)
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El Niño: A natural phenomenon that happens every 4 to 12 years, and lasts for several months, when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. This causes the warming of ocean surface water off the western coast of South America and causes die-offs of plankton and fish. It also affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world.
Endemic: A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
Polyps: Typically sedentary soft-bodied components 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.
References
- IUCN Red List (September, 2007)
http://www.iucnredlist.org - CITES (July, 2008)
http://www.cites.org - IUCN-SSC (July, 2008)
http://cms.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/red_list/species_case_studies/case_studies_meso_south_america/index.cfm - Glynn, P.W. and Wellington, G.M. (1983) Corals and Coral Reefs of the Galapagos Islands. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.
