Favites valenciennesi

Favites valenciennesi
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Merulinidae
Genus:	Favites
Species:	F. valenciennesi
Binomial name
Favites valenciennesi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849)
Synonyms
List Phymastrea profundior Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 Phymastrea valenciennesi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 Phymastrea valenciennesii Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 Favia bertholleti Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 Favia valenciennesi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849) Manicina valenciennesi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849) Montastraea valenciennesi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849) Montastrea valenciennesi (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849) Phymastraea irregularis Duncan, 1883 Phymastrea aspera Quelch, 1886 Phymastraea aspera Quelch, 1886 Favia eridani Umbgrove, 1940 Parastrea bertholleti Valenciennes, ms

Favites valenciennesi is a species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region and its range extends from Madagascar through the Indian Ocean to the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. This is a generally uncommon species but has a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being a "near-threatened species".

Distribution and habitat

Favites valenciennesi has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It occurs at depths down to about 30 m (100 ft). It is a reef-building coral and occupies a range of habitats including rocky reefs, fore and hind reef slopes, and lagoons and 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.

Status

Favites valenciennesi has a very wide range but is generally an uncommon species over much of that range. 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, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "near threatened".