Pillar coral

Pillar coral
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Meandrinidae
Genus: Dendrogyra
Ehrenberg, 1834
Species:
D. cylindrus
Binomial name
Dendrogyra cylindrus
Ehrenberg, 1834
Synonyms[2]
List

(Genus)

  • Maeandra (Dendrogyra) Ehrenberg, 1834

(Species)

  • Dendrogyra cylindricus Ehrenberg, 1834 [lapsus]
  • Maeandra (Dendrogyra) cylindrus Ehrenberg, 1834

Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) is a hard coral (order Scleractinia) found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Dendrogyra. It is a digitate coral -that is, it resembles fingers (Latin digites) or a cluster of cigars, growing up from the sea floor without any secondary branching. It is large and can grow on both flat and sloping surfaces at depths down to 20 m (65 ft). It is one of the few types of hard coral in which the polyps can commonly be seen feeding during the day.

  1. ^ Cavada-Blanco, F.; Croquer, A.; Vermeij, M.; Goergen, L.; Rodríguez-Martínez, R. (2022). "Dendrogyra cylindrus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T133124A129721366. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Dendrogyra cylindrus Ehrenberg, 1834". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-28.