Commonly known as the Pearl Bubble Coral, Physogyra lichtensteini is distinct due to its fleshy vesicles which are on display throughout the day providing refuge for several marine invertebrates including shrimp.
At night tentacles are extended to trap passing nutrients. This EDGE Coral is widespread and common on most shallow reefs in the Indo-Pacific but is often heavily harvested for the aquarium trade.
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Euphyllidae
Population: Unknown
Trend:decreasing
Colony Size: Up to 3m
Depth Range (m): 1-20
EDGE Score
EDGE Score: 3.98 (?)
ED Score: 12.33 (?)
GE / IUCN Red List(?)
NENot EvaluatedDDData DeficientLCLeast ConcernNTNear ThreatenedVUVulnerableENEndangeredCRCritically EndangeredEWExtinct in the WildEXExtinct
Distribution
A widely distributed EDGE species, the pearl bubble coral can be encountered on reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the tropical Western Pacific.
Habitat and Ecology
P. lichtensteini colonies are most common in shallow and turbid reef environments and in very rare cases can reach up to 3m in diameter.
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).
Download the survival blueprint for this species below. Each survival blueprint is compiled by an EDGE fellow working on the species with input from collaborators and stakeholders. The survival blueprint provides a status review (information on the distribution, protection status, habitat & ecology, threat and stakeholder analysis) and more information on the action programme listed here.
This Survival Blueprint is for the Action Programme for Seychelles National Parks Authority.
Vision (30-50 years)
Coral reefs are resilient to natural impacts and thrive across its natural range
Goal (5-10 years)
To inform and guide management decisions so as to conserve all existing coral reefs, while increasing resilience
Objectives
Priority
Protection of all coral species and associated reef species (including EDGE and rare corals)
Critical
Research and Monitoring of EDGE coral distribution
Critical
Establishing rehabilitation and restoration of coral reefs for improved health
Critical
Building collaboration between marine research organisation working on coral reef conservation, in the Seychelles
High
Collaborating with Dive centres on data collection on coral reefs
High
Leading the Seychelles Coral Reef Network for data collection and information sharing in the inner granitics and outer islands of Seychelles
High
Enhancing international cooperation between scientific and expert organizations working on research and conservation of EDGE corals in the Western Indian Ocean
This Survival Blueprint is for the Action Programme for Philippine coral reefs.
Vision (30-50 years)
The pearl bubble coral is valued and protected in the Philippines and in the Indo-Pacific Coral Triangle eco-region, fulfilling its ecological role in a healthy, stable ecosystem.
Goal (5-10 years)
To increase and maintain the functional population of Physogyra lichtensteini in self sustaining marine habitats in the Philippines
Objectives
Priority
To develop research database on P. lichtensteini
Critical
To raise awareness of P. lichtensteini (and EDGE coral species), elevating them as flagship or umbrella species in the Philippines, to help strengthen marine conservation and promote protection of MPAs
Critical
To strengthen legislation and enforcement in various political and geographical areas in the Philippines
Critical
To develop and improve conservation strategies that aim to maintain healthy, diverse habitats and restore and rehabilitate degraded ones
Critical
To enhance capacities of local communities in environmental conservation and protection
The EDGE score is used to prioritise EDGE species for conservation attention. Within a group of species, higher values mean that the species is a higher priority. The score is calculated by combining the ED and GE scores given below. The black line on the EDGE bar shows the mean EDGE score for all species in this taxonomic group, so you can see how high this species’ EDGE score is compared to the rest of the group.
ED is the Evolutionary Distinctiveness of this species, measured in millions of years. This number represents the unique evolutionary history surviving in this species. The black line on the ED bar shows the median ED score for all species in this taxonomic group, so you can see how high this species’ ED score is within compared to the rest of the group.
The Global Endangerment (GE) or IUCN Red List category, describes how close this species is to becoming extinct. Species that are Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered are considered to be at significant risk of extinction.
