Biology
provided by Arkive
There is no information available on the biology of this species.
Conservation
provided by Arkive
The unique biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands and the surrounding waters is recognised and valued, and thus the region is protected by being designated a Marine Reserve and World Heritage Site (1). Wellington's solitary coral is also included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that any international trade in this species should be carefully regulated (2). Unfortunately, neither of these measures protects this Critically Endangered coral from the threats of natural, or man-induced, climate change.
Description
provided by Arkive
Once known from just a few sites in the Galápagos Islands, Wellington's solitary coral may now already be extinct (3). It is a scleractinian coral, meaning that it is a 'hard' coral with a limestone skeleton (3). The polyps of Wellington's solitary coral are deep purple-black in colour (4).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Wellington's solitary coral occurs under rock ledges and overhangs and on the ceilings of caves, between depths of 2 and 45 metres (1).
Range
provided by Arkive
Endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where in the past it has been recorded at just a few locations around the islands of Isabela and Floreana, and the islets of Daphne, Cousins and Gordons Rocks (1).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (2).
Threats
provided by Arkive
Before 1982, Wellington's solitary coral was considered to be abundant at some sites. Then the El Niño event of 1982 and 1983 struck, which destroyed most colonies of this species, except for colonies at Cousins and Gordons Rocks. Yet since 2000, Wellington's solitary coral has not been found even around these two small islets, despite targeted searches. The dramatic loss of this species since the El Niño event suggests that this coral is particularly sensitive to changes to the temperature of the water in which they live, and hints at their vulnerability to the effects of global climate change (1).
Comprehensive Description
provided by Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology
Rhizopsammia wellingtoni Wells, 1982
Rhizopsammia wellingtoni Wells, 1982:213–216, pl. 2: figs. 1–3; 1983:242, pl. 15: figs. 5–7, pl. 16: fig. 1.
- bibliographic citation
- Cairns, Stephen D. 1991. "A revision of the Ahermatypic Scleractinia of the Galapagos and Cocos Islands." Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 1-32. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.504
Rhizopsammia wellingtoni
provided by wikipedia EN
Rhizopsammia wellingtoni, or Wellington's solitary coral, is an endemic species of coral from the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, recorded between 2 and 43 metres (6.6 and 141.1 ft) underwater. Before 1982, this species was considered abundant at some sites, but the El Niño event of 1982 and 1983 destroyed most colonies of this species, except for two populations. But since 2000, scientists have not found any even at those two sites, indicating that the species is particularly sensitive to changes in the temperature of water in which they live.[2]
This coral species is among the 25 "most wanted lost" species that are the focus of Global Wildlife Conservation's "Search for Lost Species" initiative.[3]
References
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Rhizopsammia wellingtoni: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Rhizopsammia wellingtoni, or Wellington's solitary coral, is an endemic species of coral from the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, recorded between 2 and 43 metres (6.6 and 141.1 ft) underwater. Before 1982, this species was considered abundant at some sites, but the El Niño event of 1982 and 1983 destroyed most colonies of this species, except for two populations. But since 2000, scientists have not found any even at those two sites, indicating that the species is particularly sensitive to changes in the temperature of water in which they live.
This coral species is among the 25 "most wanted lost" species that are the focus of Global Wildlife Conservation's "Search for Lost Species" initiative.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Biology
provided by World Register of Marine Species
azooxanthellate
van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).
- license
- cc-by-4.0
- copyright
- WoRMS Editorial Board
Depth range
provided by World Register of Marine Species
2-43 m
- license
- cc-by-4.0
- copyright
- WoRMS Editorial Board
