Millepora tenera

Millepora tenera
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Hydrozoa
Order:	Anthoathecata
Family:	Milleporidae
Genus:	Millepora
Species:	M. tenera
Binomial name
	Millepora tenera; Boschma, 1949 [2]
Synonyms[2]
	Millepora cruzi Nemenzo, 1975; Millepora tenella Ortmann, 1892; Millepora tortuosa Dana, 1848;

Millepora tenera is a species of fire coral in the family Milleporidae. It is native to the Red Sea and the western Indo-Pacific region and is a zooxanthellate species with a calcareous skeleton. It was first described in 1949 by the Dutch zoologist Hilbrand Boschma.

Distribution and habitat

Millepora tenera is native to the western Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from the Red Sea and the eastern coast of Africa to Japan, Australia, American Samoa and the Mariana Islands. It is found at depths down to about 15 metres (49 ft), often in turbid locations where it is tolerant of some degree of siltation.[1]

Toxicity

Like other fire corals, Millepora tenera can cause painful rashes when touched by bare skin. Extracts of this coral contain neurotoxins, and can cause convulsions, respiratory failure and death in mice.[3] The extract causes hemolysis, contains a dermonecrotic factor and has antigenic properties. Rabbits immunised with the extract developed neutralising antibodies that were protective against hemolysis, dermonecrosis and death. The antiserum could also be used to protect against the toxins present in an extract of Millepora alcicornis.[4]

Status

Millepora tenera has a wide range and is common over much of that range. It is subject to coral diseases and coral bleaching under adverse environmental conditions, and like other corals, is threatened by degradation of its coral reef habitat. However it is a fast-growing, rather weed-like species, and is one of the first species to recolonise damaged reefs. For these reasons, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]

References

Obura, D.O.; Fenner, D.; Hoeksema, B.W.; DeVantier, L.; Sheppard, C. (2014). "Millepora tenera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T132975A54168861. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T132975A54168861.en.
Schuchert, Peter (2015). "Millepora tenera Boschma, 1949". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
Southward, Alan J.; Young, Craig M.; Fuiman, Lee A. (2006). Advances In Marine Biology, Volume 50. Academic Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 978-0-08-046333-9.
Wittle, L.W.; Wheeler, C.A. (1974). "Toxic and immunological properties of stinging coral toxin". Toxicon. 12 (5): 487–490. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(74)90038-5.

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[IUCN-1] Obura, D.O.; Fenner, D.; Hoeksema, B.W.; DeVantier, L.; Sheppard, C. (2014). "Millepora tenera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T132975A54168861. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T132975A54168861.en.

[WoRMS-2] Schuchert, Peter (2015). "Millepora tenera Boschma, 1949". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-07-23.

[3] Southward, Alan J.; Young, Craig M.; Fuiman, Lee A. (2006). Advances In Marine Biology, Volume 50. Academic Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 978-0-08-046333-9.

[4] Wittle, L.W.; Wheeler, C.A. (1974). "Toxic and immunological properties of stinging coral toxin". Toxicon. 12 (5): 487–490. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(74)90038-5.