Cynarina lacrymalis

(Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849)

Vernacular names
English : Flat cup coral
French : Corail à larmes

Classification
Class : Anthozoa
Order : Scleractinia
Family : Lobophylliidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Huge solitary polyp reaching a diameter of 15 cm. Very large mouth surrounded by a wide oral disk. Round or upper oval surface. Very thick transparent and bulbous fleshy mantle, green, beige or even pink in coloration.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa to north Australia and south Japan, east to Indonesia. Lives in shallow coral reefs and sandy bottoms with moderate flow, to 40 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is threatened by acidification of water and global warming (like most stony corals) and also by overcollection for aquarium trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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