BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Leptopsammia pruvoti

Researched by

Angus Jackson

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

Paul Tranter

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Leptopsammia pruvoti

Common name

Sunset cup coral

MCS Code

D804

Recent Synonyms

Leptopsammia microcardia

Phylum

Cnidaria

Subphylum

Superclass

Anthozoa

Class

Hexacorallia

Subclass

Order

Scleractinia

Suborder

Family

Caryophylliidae

Genus

Leptopsammia

Species

pruvoti

Subspecies

Additional Information

The synonym Leptopsammia microcardia was last used by Abel (1959) and Rutzler, 1966 despite the general recognition of their synonymy since 1954.

Taxonomy References

Hayward et al., 1996, Howson & Picton, 1997, Manuel, 1988, Anonymous, 1999(f), Zibrowius, 1980,

General Biology

Growth form

Cylindrical
Radial

Feeding method

Predator
Passive suspension feeder

Mobility/Movement

Permanent attachment

Environmental position

Epifaunal
Epilithic

Typical food types

Zooplankton, organic particulates

Habit

Attached

Bioturbator

Not relevant

Flexibility

None (< 10 degrees)

Fragility

Fragile

Size

Small-medium(3-10cm)

Height

6 cm

Growth Rate

1.3 mm/year

Adult dispersal potential

None

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Solitary

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

Younger individuals have a round calice which becomes elliptical with age. The skeleton is porous. It is not known whether the species is hermaphroditic or gonochoristic. The size range applies to maximum height of the corallum. The longest diameter of the calyx is 17 mm. Growth rate has been observed to be very slow in aquarium specimens which are little fed and in same seawater for several months (2 mm across calice after 18 months) but can be fast if fed and in continuous seawater supply (to 10 mm across calice after one year. (Paul Tranter, pers. comm.). Typically found as solitary individuals but may occur as several corallia from the same base forming 'pseudocolonies': during culture experiments, if any of the tissue overlying the skeletal column was lost, there would eventually appear, over a matter of weeks, one or more small polyps which would eventually form part of the 'parent' skeleton and give the impression of a naturally formed colony (Paul Tranter, pers. comm.). Leptopsammia pruvoti is known to have the ability to control and possibly 'farm' the bacterial content of its coelenteric cavity (Herndl & Velimirov, 1985). These bacteria could be used as an additional food source. The horseshoe worm Phoronis hippocrepia and the fan worm Potamilla reniformis bore into the base of the skeleton of Leptopsammia pruvoti and the bivalve Hiatella arctica further enlarges these boreholes. Once bored, the skeleton is weakened and corals may be easily detached.

Biology References

Manuel, 1988, Anonymous, 1999(f), Zibrowius, 1980, Herndl & Velimirov, 1985, Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

Portland Bill, Lyme Bay, off Plymouth Sound, the Isles of Scilly and Lundy only. Believed to no longer occur in North Devon near Ilfracombe where it was present in 1969 (K. Hiscock, pers. comm.)

Global distribution

Found throughout the Mediterranean west of Cyprus and in the Adriatic. Also on the Atlantic coasts of SW England, the Channel Isles, Brittany and Portugal. It has not been recorded despite targeted survey in Madeira, the Azores, or the Canary Isles.

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

10-40 m

Migratory

Non-migratory / Resident

Distribution Additional Information

This species is at the northern limit of its range possibly forming a relict from a larger previous distribution. It is now restricted to 'ideal' locations.

Substratum preferences

Small boulders
Bedrock
Large to very large boulders

Physiographic preferences

Open coast

Biological zone

Lower Infralittoral
Upper Circalittoral
Lower Circalittoral

Wave exposure

Exposed
Moderately Exposed
Sheltered

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Moderately Strong (1-3 kn)
Weak (<1 kn)
Very Weak (negligible)

Salinity

Full (30-40 psu)

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

None entered

Distribution References

Manuel, 1988, Anonymous, 1999(f), Zibrowius, 1980, Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897,

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Lecithotrophic

Reproductive Season

July to September

Reproductive Location

Water column

Reproductive frequency

Insufficient information

Regeneration potential

Life span

Insufficient information

Age at reproductive maturity

Insufficient information

Generation time

Insufficient information

Fecundity

Insufficient information

Egg/propagule size

Insufficient information

Fertilization type

External

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	<10m	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	1 day

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Lifespan has not been established for this species but it is probably quite long lived. Individuals tend to die through weakening of the skeleton by boring organisms and subsequent detachment by agents such as foraging fish or careless divers. However, skeletons (dead individuals) have been found still attached to rocks (K. Hiscock, pers. comm.) Populations tend to become extinct through lack of recruitment. Lacaze-Duthiers, (1897) suggests that the sexes are separate. Eggs are laid in succession , at indefinite, fairly well-spaced intervals over a period of time that must be substantial (Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897). Larvae have been successfully produced in aquaria. The eggs are released from the female stomach cavity and those that are unfertilised may float to the surface. Fertilised eggs (young larvae) swim actively in the water column (K. Hiscock pers. comm..) but settle rapidly to the substratum close to the adult, where after a period of freedom they attach themselves in the shape of an ovoid or a ciliated worm (Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897). The larval settling time is generally short but observations from aquaria suggest that the larval stage may exist for up to six weeks before settling. Recruitment is very sporadic. Over 12 years of monitoring on Lundy has shown little or no recruitment and the population there declined by 22 percent between 1993 and 1997. Recruitment may fail for several reasons. Environmental conditions (primarily temperature) are unsuitable for gamete production to occur or to occur synchronously. Alternatively larvae may be swept away into unsuitable habitat by water currents or be consumed by predators before metamorphosing. Recruitment in the Mediterranean is also sporadic. Some recruitment may occur through influx of southern water bodies bringing with it larvae.

Reproduction References

Anonymous, 1999(f), Lacaze-Duthiers, 1897,