Favites valenciennesi
A wide-ranging but uncommon stony coral assessed as near-threatened.
Favites valenciennesi, a stony coral belonging to the family Merulinidae, is found across the Indo-Pacific, from Madagascar through the Indian Ocean and into the western and central Pacific. Though it is not abundant across most of its extensive range, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a "near-threatened species."
This reef-building coral lives in various settings, including rocky reefs, lagoon environments, and both fore and hind reef slopes, typically at depths down to about 30 meters. Its shape changes with depth: in shallower water it tends to be massive, globular, or lobed, while in deeper areas it often forms plate-like layers.
Population trends for *F. valenciennesi* are not precisely known, but are likely declining. It faces the same pressures as many other corals, such as habitat destruction, global warming, and ocean acidification, and it is also collected for use in home aquariums.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Favites valenciennesi
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Favites valenciennesi is a reef-building coral that occupies a range of habitats including rocky reefs, fore and hind reef slopes, and lagoons. It is most common at moderate depths. In shallow water, it tends to be massive and globular, or lobed, while in deeper water it tends to form plate-like layers.
There is no precise information on population trends, but it is likely to be decreasing. This coral faces the same threats as other species: habitat destruction, global warming, and ocean acidification. It is also collected for use in reef aquaria.
Reader's Guide
Favites valenciennesi holds significance as a reef-building coral with a very wide distribution across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, yet it remains generally uncommon over much of that range. Its conservation status as 'near-threatened' reflects the pressures it faces from habitat destruction, global warming, and ocean acidification, as well as collection for reef aquaria. The lack of precise population trend data underscores the uncertainty surrounding its future, though a decrease is likely. Its morphological plasticity—massive and globular in shallow water, plate-like in deeper water—illustrates its adaptation to different depths. As a member of the family Merulinidae, it contributes to the structural complexity of coral reef ecosystems, though its uncommon nature means its role may be less dominant than that of more abundant species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature's assessment highlights the need for continued monitoring, given the broad but thinly spread population and the cumulative threats it faces.
Did You Know?
- Favites valenciennesi is a species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae.
- Its range extends from Madagascar through the Indian Ocean to the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
- It occurs at depths down to about 30 m (100 ft).
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as 'near-threatened'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Favites valenciennesi?
Favites valenciennesi is a reef-building stony coral classified within the family Merulinidae. It is a generally uncommon species with a broad distribution across the Indo-Pacific.
Where can Favites valenciennesi be found?
This coral occurs from Madagascar through the Indian Ocean and into the western and central Pacific. It inhabits rocky reefs, lagoon settings, and both fore and hind reef slopes at depths reaching roughly 30 meters (about 100 feet).
What is the conservation status of Favites valenciennesi?
The IUCN lists Favites valenciennesi as a near-threatened species. Although its range is extensive, the coral remains relatively scarce across most of that area.
How does Favites valenciennesi's shape vary with depth?
In shallower water the coral tends to grow in a massive, globular form. As depth increases, its morphology shifts to accommodate different light and current conditions on the reef.
Why is Favites valenciennesi important to coral reef ecosystems?
As a reef-building member of the Merulinidae, it adds structural complexity to Indo-Pacific coral communities. Its occurrence across diverse habitats—from lagoons to reef slopes—makes it a useful marker of overall habitat condition in those zones.
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