Anemone coral (Goniopora columna)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Poritidae · Genus: Goniopora.

Accepted name: Goniopora columna · Authority: Dana, 1846 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 207221.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Goniopora undalata Nemenzo, 1955.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207221 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Goniopora columna. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Depth range: 2–18 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.

SeaLifeBase notes: Occur in both shallow and deeper waters. Colony shape tends to look larger and massive when masked by the tentacles. Although when disturbed, its normal columnar shape becomes more prominent. Polyps extend during the day (Ref. 130769).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45669) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Goniopora-columna.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

270 georeferenced occurrence records for Goniopora columna are published through GBIF from 18 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 67 distinct locations from a sample of 270 records, omitting 4 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (166); Egypt (24); Mayotte (16); Marshall Islands (15); Japan (14); New Caledonia (7); Indonesia (6); Fiji (4); Micronesia (Federated States of) (3); India (3); Christmas Island (2); Iran (Islamic Republic of) (2); Papua New Guinea (2); Yemen (2); Eritrea (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Rodrigues; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; Red Sea; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; Réunion Exclusive Economic Zone; Chagos; Indo-West Pacific; Fijian Exclusive Economic Zone; Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone; Papua New Guinean Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2260443) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2260443&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207221 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Goniopora columna Dana, 1846 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 133448) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133448/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2260443) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2260443/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species is native to the western and eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Persian Gulf, Australia, South-east Asia, Japan and East China Sea.

It can be found in Australia, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, Guam, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique. Myanmar, New Caledonia, Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen.

This reef-associated species occurs in tropical shallow waters and in sheltered, sandy or lagoon environments, at depths of 2 to 15 m. It may also occur in turbid waters. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "Near Threatened". These corals appear moderately susceptible to bleaching, especially in turbid waters, which can help to protect them.

This species develops hemispherical or irregular columnar mound shaped colonies with a neat appearance and dead basal parts. The color of the polips may be yellow, brown or green, usually with different color in the oral discs.

The diameter of the small and rounded calices ranges from about 3 - 5 mm, with a uniform bundle of tentacles. The columellae are rather large and long. The living polyps can reach a length up to 10 cm.

This species is quite similar to Goniopora stokesi and Goniopora lobata. It differs from the other two especially for the columnar shape of the colonies and for the large light-colored oral disc.

Like most corals, Goniopora columna reproduce asexually. They usually feed on plankton. Mature gametes are spawned through the mouth. The zygote develops into a planktonic planula larva.

Source: Wikipedia: Goniopora columna — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goniopora_columna (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.