Keoki & Yuko Okano Stender, Hawaii
Info
Antipathes griggi has so far only been discovered in three areas of our oceans: first in the waters off Hawaii, then approximately 8,500 kilometers away in the waters off the Philippines, and then, depending on the flight route, another 8,000 kilometers away in the Gulf of Aqaba/Red Sea.
These are extremely long distances, which raises the question of why it only occurs in these locations?
Another special and remarkable characteristic of black corals is evident in Antipathes griggi.
The majority of black corals are azooxanthellate, meaning they depend on plankton for food, but this is not true for all black corals!
In 2010, a team led by Dr. Daniel Wagner examined 14 antipathic species (black corals) collected off Hawaii and Johnston Atoll for the presence of Symbiodinium using molecular typing and histology.
Symbiodinium ITS-2 sequences were obtained from 43 percent of the Antipatharia samples examined and 71 percent of the species examined.
The large depth range in which Symbiodinium was detected (10–396 meters).
> Species with proven zooxanthellae also include Antipathes and Antipathes griggi.
In 2011, a team led by Dr. Marzia Bo described evidence of Symbiodinium in various Cirrhipathes species.
The color of the living colonies of Antipathes griggi is a bright red.
This coral is notable for its stiff, vertical branches with tips thicker than 0.6 mm.
Keoki Stender reported from Hawaii that the long-snouted coral guard (Oxycirrhites typus) is regularly found among the branches of Antipathes griggi and is therefore difficult to photograph.
The Hawaiian butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri) is not directly associated with this black coral, but is often found in the same habitat.
These are extremely long distances, which raises the question of why it only occurs in these locations?
Another special and remarkable characteristic of black corals is evident in Antipathes griggi.
The majority of black corals are azooxanthellate, meaning they depend on plankton for food, but this is not true for all black corals!
In 2010, a team led by Dr. Daniel Wagner examined 14 antipathic species (black corals) collected off Hawaii and Johnston Atoll for the presence of Symbiodinium using molecular typing and histology.
Symbiodinium ITS-2 sequences were obtained from 43 percent of the Antipatharia samples examined and 71 percent of the species examined.
The large depth range in which Symbiodinium was detected (10–396 meters).
> Species with proven zooxanthellae also include Antipathes and Antipathes griggi.
In 2011, a team led by Dr. Marzia Bo described evidence of Symbiodinium in various Cirrhipathes species.
The color of the living colonies of Antipathes griggi is a bright red.
This coral is notable for its stiff, vertical branches with tips thicker than 0.6 mm.
Keoki Stender reported from Hawaii that the long-snouted coral guard (Oxycirrhites typus) is regularly found among the branches of Antipathes griggi and is therefore difficult to photograph.
The Hawaiian butterflyfish (Chaetodon tinkeri) is not directly associated with this black coral, but is often found in the same habitat.
