Weymouth carpet coral (Hoplangia durotrix)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

This coral is colonial and forms clusters up to 5 cm across, with the individual coral skeleton buds forming a stony basal encrustation. The polyps are a light brown or buff colour and have long tentacles. The skeletons of individual polyps are cylindrical and up to 4 mm in diameter and 10 mm high.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Recorded in southern England as far east as west Sussex, in north Devon and at Skomer in south-west Wales. The distribution map indicates Weymouth Bay, the type localities and west Sussex where it was photographed at the 'wreck' of an artificial harbour.

Global distribution

Recorded frequently around all coasts of south west Europe, from northern France to Portugal, Madeira and the Canary Isles. Common in the Mediterranean.

Habitat

Lives attached to rocks, in caves and crevices in the shade. Recorded mainly in the shallow sublittoral at 0-25 m in depth.

Depth range

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Identifying features

  • Colonial forming small, low clusters approximately 5 cm across.
  • The polyps are buff or brown in colour with long tentacles.
  • The polyps are cylindrical and up to 4 mm in diameter and 10 mm high.
They are distinguished from Caryophyllia spp. by the absence of central septa in the skeleton.

Additional information

-none-

Listed by

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Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E. ed., 1999. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. CD-ROM Edition. Ulster Museum and The Marine Conservation Society, Belfast and Ross-on-Wye., Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication no. 280.]

  2. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  3. Manuel, R.L., 1988. British Anthozoa. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) (ed. D.M. Kermack & R.S.K. Barnes). The Linnean Society of London [Synopses of the British Fauna No. 18.]. DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19810660505

  4. Moore, J., 2002. An atlas of marine Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats and Species of Conservation Concern in Wales, 2nd edn. Report to the Countryside Council for Wales, CCW Contract Science Report no. 509.

Datasets

  1. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  2. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-16

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Peckett, F. & Garrard, S. L. 2007. Hoplangia durotrix Weymouth carpet coral. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 16-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1807

Last Updated: 22/08/2007