Dr. Asuka Sentoku, Ryukyu, Japan
Info
We would like to thank Dr. Asuka Sentoku, Ryukyu, Japan, especially warmly for his permission to use his unique photo of this stony coral.
Heterocyathus alternatus is a solitarily occurring stony coral, whose distribution area is possibly much larger than listed by us on the basis of scientific evidence, see e.g. the information in the IUCN Red List.
Similar different information is given about the depth distribution of the species, in the literature information like "15 - 100 meters" can be found, the coral is classified as azooxanthellate, nevertheless some scientists ask themselves if the species could be azooxanthellate as well as zooxanthellate (Coral Traits).
Heterocyathus alternatus is always found on soft horizontal and gently sloping bottoms usually in association with Heteropsammnia spp. and Cyclosers spp.
Because of only a few reports of living corals Heterocyathus alternatus seems to be insufficiently studied so far.
Synonyms:
Heterocyathus aequicostatus parasiticus Semper, 1872
Heterocyathus alternata Verrill, 1865
Heterocyathus heterocostatus Harrison, 1911
Heterocyathus mai Cheng, 1971
Heterocyathus parasiticus Semper, 1872
Heterocyathus alternatus is a solitarily occurring stony coral, whose distribution area is possibly much larger than listed by us on the basis of scientific evidence, see e.g. the information in the IUCN Red List.
Similar different information is given about the depth distribution of the species, in the literature information like "15 - 100 meters" can be found, the coral is classified as azooxanthellate, nevertheless some scientists ask themselves if the species could be azooxanthellate as well as zooxanthellate (Coral Traits).
Heterocyathus alternatus is always found on soft horizontal and gently sloping bottoms usually in association with Heteropsammnia spp. and Cyclosers spp.
Because of only a few reports of living corals Heterocyathus alternatus seems to be insufficiently studied so far.
Synonyms:
Heterocyathus aequicostatus parasiticus Semper, 1872
Heterocyathus alternata Verrill, 1865
Heterocyathus heterocostatus Harrison, 1911
Heterocyathus mai Cheng, 1971
Heterocyathus parasiticus Semper, 1872
