Physophyllia is a monotypic genus of coral in the family Merulinidae. Its sole assigned species is Physophyllia ayleni. The species was first described by John W. Wells in 1935.[3] It is a hermatypic coral that constructs reefs in the temperate and tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.
| Physophyllia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Merulinidae |
| Genus: | Physophyllia |
| Species: | P. ayleni |
| Binomial name | |
| Physophyllia ayleni (Wells, 1935)[2] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Morphology
editP. ayleni forms colonies with encrusting or stratified plates. The plates have vertical walls of irregular height, radiating toward the plate margins. These walls separate individual corallites or small groups of corallites, which are consequently widely spaced.[4] Its color ranges from dark grey[5] to dark brownish-green.[4] Some specimens reach 1 m (3.3 ft) in diameter, but colonies of 20–30 cm (8–12 in) are more common.
Taxonomy
editP. ayleni was thought to be in the Pectiniidae family, but it was reclassified in 2014 to the family Merulinidae.[6][7][1] However, as of 2026[update], the Integrated Taxonomic Information System still includes P. ayleni in Pectiniidae.[8]
Habitat and distribution
editIt lives in coral reefs located in tropical waters near the coast. It is found in most reef habitats, except in areas with strong currents. It typically occurs at depths between 2 and 25 m (6.6 and 82.0 ft).[1] The species is found in the Indo-Pacific and is native to Australia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Sinapore, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.[1]
Food
editIt contains mutualistic symbiotic algae (both organisms benefit from the relationship) called zooxanthellae. The algae perform photosynthesis, producing oxygen and sugars, which are used by the polyps, and they feed on the coral's metabolic waste products (especially phosphorus and nitrogen).[9]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 Crabbe, J.; Huang, D.; Porter, S. N.; Bluemel, J.; Ng, L. (2024). "Physophyllia ayleni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T133694A166016550. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T133694A166016550.en. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- 1 2 "Physophyllia ayleni (Wells, 1935)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ Wells, J. W. (1935). "The genotype of Physophyllia and living species of Astrocœnia". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 15 (87): 339–344, pls. 13–15. doi:10.1080/00222933508654971.
- 1 2 "Pectinia ayleni". Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013.
- ↑ Veron, J. E. N. (1992). Hermatypic corals of Japan. Townsville, Qld: Australian Institute of Marine Science. p. 145. ISBN 0642170835. OCLC 38327989.
- ↑ Hoeksema, B. W.; Cairns, S. (2025). "Physophyllia ayleni (Wells, 1935)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Huang, Danwei; Benzoni, Francesca; Fukami, Hironobu; Knowlton, Nancy; Smith, Nathan D.; Budd, Ann F. (June 2014). "Taxonomic classification of the reef coral families Merulinidae, Montastraeidae, and Diploastraeidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 171 (2): 277–355. doi:10.1111/zoj.12140.
- ↑ "Physophyllia ayleni (Wells, 1934)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ↑ Debelius, Heimut; Baensch, Hans A. (1998). Marine atlas: The joint aquarium care of invertebrates and tropical marine fishes. Mergus. OCLC 39390502.
Further reading
edit
- Budd, Ann F.; Fukami, Hironobu; Smith, Nathan D.; Knowlton, Nancy (November 2012). "Taxonomic classification of the reef coral family Mussidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 166 (3): 465–529. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00855.x.
- Borneman, Eric H. (2001). Aquarium corals: selection, husbandry and natural history. T. F. H. Publications. ISBN 1-890087-47-5. LCCN 99-058676.
- Cairns, S. D.; Hoeksema, B. W.; van der Land, J. (1999). "Appendix: List of extant stony corals". Atoll Research Bulletin. 459: 13–46.
- Gosliner, Terrence; Behrens, David W.; Williams, Gary C. (1996). Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific. Monterey, CA: Sea Challengers Publishers. ISBN 0930118219. OCLC 34149175.
- Huang, Danwei; Benzoni, Francesca; Fukami, Hironobu; Knowlton, Nancy; Smith, Nathan D.; Budd, Ann F. (June 2014). "Taxonomy of reef corals". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 171 (2): 277–355. doi:10.1111/zoj.12140.
- Pillai, C. S. G.; Scheer, G. (1976). "Report on the stony corals from the Maldive Archipelago. Results of the Xarifa Expedition 1957/58". Zoologica. 43 (126): 1–83, pls. 1-32.
- Pichon, M.; Benzoni, F. (2007). "Taxonomic re-appraisal of zooxanthellate Scleractinian Corals in the Maldive Archipelago". Zootaxa. 1441: 21–33. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1441.1.2. hdl:10281/25261.
- Ruppert, E. E.; Fox, R. S.; Barnes, R. D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology: A functional evolutionary approach (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson-Brooks/Cole. ISBN 0-03-025982-7. OCLC 53021401.
- Veron, J. E. N. (1986). Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. North Ryde, NSW: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207151164. OCLC 16526782.