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Home > Species > Corals > Parasimplastrea sheppardi

Parasimplastrea sheppardi

About

Parasimplastrea sheppardi is the only member of its genus.

This species has a relatively restricted range and is uncommon throughout it. Across this range it is subject to anthropogenic impacts and extensive habitat reduction due to its shallow depth limits.

The fleshy polyps of Parasimplastrea sheppardi are surrounded by a brown corallite and have a green centre.

Specific population trends are unknown but thought to be declining.

  • Order: Scleractinia
  • Family: Faviidae
  • Trend: decreasing
  • Depth Range (m): 3 - 20m

EDGE Score

EDGE Score: 4.28 (?)
ED Score: 8.07 (?)
GE / IUCN Red List (?)
Not Evaluated Data Deficient Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct

Distribution

P.sheppardi is found in the shallow, tropical waters within the Indo-West Pacific, the northwest Indian Ocean and the Arabian/Iranian Gulf.

Habitat and Ecology

This species occurs in marginal reef environments, mainly in the Arabian region. It can be found on subtidal rock and rocky reefs, on the back and foreslope of the reef, and in lagoons.

It is a colonial species which grows either in an encrusting (forming a layer over substrate) or submassive (bulbous growth with primary branching) manner.

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This wordcloud illustrates the threats facing this species. The size of each word indicates the extent of a species range that is affected by that threat (larger size means a greater area is affected). The colour of the word indicates how much that threat impacts the species (darker shades of red mean the threat is more severe).

Urban development Industrial development Tourism Extreme temperatures Extreme weather Shipping Fishing Recreation Invasive species Native species Wastewater Industry Agriculture Air pollution

Threat wordcloud key:

Small area affected
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
Large area affected
Least severe
Most severe
Severity unknown
Source: The IUCN List of Threatened Species. Version 2017.1.
Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org

Sylvanna Antat

  • Project name: A study of the role of Marine Protected Areas in the conservation of three EDGE coral species
  • Project site: Seychelles
  • Active: 2013 - 2016
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