Anthozoa |
Scleractinia |
Merulinidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Reef-associated; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 115197). Tropical; 41°N - 37°S, 26°E - 170°W
Indo-Pacific. Tropical to subtropical.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cmCommon length : 2.0 cm DL male/unsexed; (Ref. 269)
The head coral is one of the numerous species so-called due to their rounded massive shape, similar to a human head. Corallites are evenly distributed, plocoid, exsert, circular or slightly oval, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, and usually separated from each other bya afew millimeters. Colonies grow to about 1 m diameter and are found at all depths (Ref. 269).
Corallites are evenly distributed, plocoid, exsert, circular or slightly oval, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, and usually separated from each other by few millimeters. Colonies grow to about 1 m diameter and are found at all depths (Ref. 269). Maximum depth from Ref. 98471.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hermaphroditic (Refs. 113708, 113712). Mature gametes are shed into the coelenteron and spawned through the mouth. Life cycle: The zygote develops into a planktonic planula larva. Metamorphosis begins with early morphogenesis of tentacles, septa and pharynx before larval settlement on the aboral end (Ref. 833).
Hodgson, G. 1998. (Ref. 269)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Human uses
| FishSource |
Tools
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 24.5 - 29.1, mean 28.1 (based on 1300 cells).
Price category
Unknown.