New to nature no 110: Sandalolitha boucheti

A species of mushroom coral discovered in Vanuatu demonstrates the extreme marine biodiversity of the Pacific's 'coral triangle'The family Fungiidae are commonly known as mushroom corals because of a strong resemblance to the underside of the cap of a gilled mushroom. They are distributed in tropical seas of the Indo-Pacific and may be found among a diversity of reefs: shallow flats, deep reefs and reefs both offshore and situated near the mouths of rivers. Most mushroom corals detach in the adult stage and become solitary and free living, although some remain connected to their substrate. Dense swarms of adults are observed consisting of one or more of the 50 species in the family.The south-eastern area of Espiritu Santo was surveyed during the Santo 2006 expedition organised by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, Pro-Natura International and the Institut de recherche pour le développement with funds from the Total and Sloan foundations. Previous studies of Vanuatu, south-west Pacific, had documented the presence of only 20 species of mushroom corals. Following Santo 2006, that number increased to 36, including two new species, one named Sandalolitha boucheti by Dr Bert W Hoeksema of the Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Leiden.In September 2006, 25 dives were made over a period of 15 days resulting in more than a dozen new species records for mushroom corals in Vanuatu. Sandalolitha boucheti is so far known only from Vanuatu and north-eastern Bor...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: World news Features Animals The Observer Zoology Environment Science Wildlife Source Type: news