Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 3 Plates and Other Agariciids Judith Lang and Kenneth Marks Atlantic...

Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 3Plates and Other Agariciids

Judith Lang and Kenneth MarksAtlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) ProgramRevision: 2013-05-22 www.agrra.org

and by other photographers.

Permission is granted to use the photographs and slides in this presentation with the

AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for other valid educational purposes..

All other uses are strictly prohibited.

For images used in Part 3, our special thanks to:P. Humann, M. Nugues, D. Petersen,

R. Steneck, G. van Moorsel (ecosub.nl)

Adapted from P.R. Kramer

Colony shape – massive (= mound, columnar, heavy plates), crust, plate, branching

Colony size range – small to big

Colony surface – bumpy, smooth, ridged

Polyp size – small to big

Polyp shape – round, elliptical, irregular, Y-shaped

Polyp colour – brown, tan, yellow, olive, green, red

Septal shape – fat, thin; smooth, toothed

Reminder: What to Look for Underwater

The stony corals illustrated here are limited to species found in the wider Caribbean at depths (<20 m) typical of most AGRRA surveys.

The names of some of these corals are changing as a result of modern research. More taxa are added as we gain underwater photographs of species that are rare and/or of geographically limited distributions. Expect periodic updates!

Photographers who can enhance this collection are encouraged to contact Judy Lang at: jlang@riposi.net or info@agrra.org

For each species: (# in m and ft) = maximum colony size

Reminder: AGRRA Coral Species

Coding Corals in AGRRA Surveys

Use the CARICOMP-based coral codes.

The coral code for a genus (or occasionally a species complex) is the first 4 letters of its genus name and should be used whenever you are unsure of a coral’s species identity: AGAR = Agaricia

The coral code for a species is the first letter of the genus name followed by the first 3 letters of its species name: ALAM = Agaricia lamarcki

Codes are shown before names appear on the introductory slide for species that are commonly recorded in AGRRA surveys.

Agariciid Coralssmall polyps; meandroid colonies (polyp mouths in valleys, between ridges)

Helioseris thick, wide

discontinous ridges

Agaricia thick, wide ridges

Undaria thin, pointed ridges

unifacial and platy only

narrow valleys are short and/or long

unifacial or bifacial

platy or massive

wide, shallow, long valleys

wide, short valleys or individual polyps

Some species of Agaricia (agaricites, tenuifolia, humilis) were reclassified as

species of Undaria on the basis of morphological characters. See Budd et al.,

1994 (reference given on final slide).

More recent molecular analyses may result in a future reversal of this

designation (J. Stake, pers. comm., Sept. 2011).

Undaria agaricites UAGA

Close-upUAGA

small polyps in long rows or short reticulations

pointed ridge tops

tan to many shades of brown; some fluoresce pink or orange

examples of variation in shape: unifacial - crusts, plates, low mounds

bifacial - mounds with keels or thick lobes

(to ~ 1 m/3 ft)

many colonies may settle and grow close together

Undaria tenuifolia UTENthin, vertical keels are elongate or dissected

small polyps in long rows or short reticulations

yellowish, grey or brown

large (to ~ 4 m/12 ft)

Undaria tenuifolia UTEN

How differs from keeled U. agaricites:much thinner keels, colonies are much larger when fully grown

U. agaricites U. tenuifolia UAGA UTEN

Which is Which?

Complications!

Some keeled colonies of U. agaricites closely resemble small

U. tenuifolia.

If unsure of species identity, code as: Undaria UNDA

tiny, densely packed, polyps with deep centers

reticulate ridges have pointed tips

yellowish to dark brown

small crusts (to ~ 12 cm/5 in)

Close-up

Undaria humilis UHUM

How differs from U. agaricites:polyps are smaller, more densely packed, have deeper centers

crusts don’t developplaty edges

colonies are smaller when fully grown

Undaria humilis UHUM

Close-up

U. agaricites U. humilis UAGA UHUM

Which is Which?

Close-up

Complications!

Some small colonies of U. agaricites closely resemble U. humilis.

If unsure of species identity, code as: Undaria UNDA

Agaricia fragilis AFRA

tiny polyps with low ridges in long rows that are sometimes contorted and have relatively few, if any, reticulations

tan, yellow- to dark- brown; can have bright colours and/or polyps that lack zooxanthellae

thin plates

(to ~ 15 cm/6 in)

Close-up Close-up

expanded polyps contracted polyps

polyps may be sunken and appear constricted

How differs from all U. humilis and U. agaricites:

thicker ridges have few, if any, reticulations

thinner skeletons

A. fragilis U. agaricites U. humilis AFRA UAGA UHUM

Which is Which?

Agaricia lamarcki ALAM

Close-up

polyps with conspicuous, white mouths in long rows or shorter reticulations

thick ridges with broad, rounded or somewhat pointed tops

yellow- to dark- brown

thick, heavy plates

(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)

Agaricia lamarcki ALAM

How differs from A. fragilis and platy U. agaricites:larger polyps

thicker, denser skeletons

colonies are larger when fully grown

+ from U. agaricites:polyp mouths more distinct

A. lamarcki U. agaricites ALAM UAGA

Which is Which?

Helioseris cucullata HCUC*

*HCUC was considered a species of Leptoseris for several decades.

HCUC*Close-up

outward-facing polyp mouths at the bases of steep, thick ridges of variable length

conspicuous septa

Helioseris cucullata HCUC

tan, yellow-brown, brown; may fluoresce greenish, blue or grey colours

very thin plates

(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)

Helioseris cucullata HCUC

How differs from A. fragilis: larger polyps

higher ridges

+ from platy U. agaricites:polyp mouths at bases of steep, thick, outward-facing ridges

thinner plates

partially bleached HCUC

H. cucullata U. agaricites HCUC UAGA

Which is Which?

A. fragilis H. cucullata AFRA HCUC

Which is Which?

Reference

Budd, A.F., T.A. Stemann, and K.G. Johnson. 1994. Stratigraphic distribution of genera and species of Neogene to Recent Caribbean reef corals. Journal of Paleontology 68: 951-977.

Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 3 Plates and Other Agariciids Judith Lang and Kenneth Marks Atlantic...

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