BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Caryophyllia smithii
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Paul Gregory	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Caryophyllia smithii	Common name	Devonshire cup coral
MCS Code	D783	Recent Synonyms	Caryophyllia claves, Paracyathus taxilianus, Paracyathus thulensis, Paracyathus pteropus.

Phylum	Cnidaria	Subphylum
Superclass	Anthozoa	Class	Hexacorallia
Subclass		Order	Scleractinia
Suborder		Family	Caryophylliidae
Genus	Caryophyllia	Species	smithii
Subspecies

Additional Information	Manuel (1988) states that the Devonshire cup coral has two forms; a shallow water form (Caryophyllia smithii var. smithii) that can be found in waters up to 100 m deep and a deep water form (Caryophyllia smithii var. clavus) that is found in water >50-1000 m deep. The shape of the corallum is distinctly different between the two forms, the deep water form being smaller with a narrow base, but the two forms are otherwise similar in general structure (Manuel, 1988). Caryophyllia inornata is very similar and co-occurs in some locations. Young specimens of Caryophyllia smithii are usually six-rayed and may be virtually indistinguishable from Caryophyllia inornata (Manuel, 1983).
Taxonomy References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Gibson et al., 2001, Howson & Picton, 1997, Howson & Picton, 1999, Manuel, 1988, Manuel, 1983,