Cup Coral
(Turbinaria peltata)
Facts
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IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)
Facts about this animal
The Cup Coral has rather small polyps but may grow to more than 1 m. There are two main habits: one being rangy conical, another being cup-shaped. It may also be found in the form of ruffled ridges, plates, vases, or scrolls. Colours may be bright yellow, cream white, grey, brown, blue and green. The base and the polyps are blue.
Depending on the conditions that it is exposed to, it can grow horizontally or vertically.
The Cup Coral is nocturnal and hides its polyps during day in the skeleton. By night, it feeds on plankton.
The age of first maturity of most reef building corals is typically three to eight years.
This species is particularly susceptible to bleaching – caused by higher temperature going along with climate change –, disease, and other threats.
Did you know?
that a genus of brown algae is also called Turbinaria? That in 2005 17,191 Cup Coral were exported - mainly from Indonesia - for the aquarium trade?
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | ANTHOZOA |
| Order | SCLERACTINIA |
| Family | DENDROPHYLLIIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Turbinaria peltata |
| Name (English) | Cup Coral |
| Name (French) | Scléractiniaire, corail dur |
| Name (German) | Kelchkoralle |
| Name (Spanish) | Coral Copa |
| CITES Status | Appendix II |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Charlie Veron
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Africa, Indonesia |
| Habitat | Tropical coral reefs at 9-20 m depth, rarely above or below from 0.5-25 m. It prefers vertical cliff faces and reef slopes. |
| Wild population | This species is widespread and common throughout its range. However, it is heavily harvested for the aquarium trade. |
| Zoo population | 52 reported to ISIS (2008) |
In the Zoo
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Why do zoos keep this animal
Aquariums keep the Cup Coral for educational purposes. It serves as an ambassador species for the different kind of threats to tropical reefs. These threats are mainly anthropogenic.
How this animal should be kept
The Cup Coral is easy to average to keep. Tank size should be about 527 l. Avoid debris on the cup. It is a peaceful reef inhabitant and does not bother other corals that are placed in close proximity to it. However, it should still be provided with ample space away from other corals because it does grow quickly. It will require moderate lighting combined with moderate to strong water movement within the aquarium. For its continued good health, it will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water. It will benefit from additional food in the form of brine shrimp, zooplankton or cyclop eeze. Each polyp can be fed with meaty food.