Hawaiian gold coral

Hawaiian gold coral

Kulamanamana haumeaae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Order:	Zoantharia
Suborder:	Macrocnemina
Family:	Parazoanthidae
Genera
Kulamanamana

Hawaiian gold coral (Kulamanamana haumeaae) is a rare, extremely long-lived deep-sea coral found on seamounts near Hawaii. One colony has been dated as 2,740 years old, while others are considered 5,000 years old.^[1] Although it has been harvested commercially for use in jewellery for a long time, it was not formally described by taxonomists until 2012 when it was found to be related to both the genus Savalia and the octocoral-associated zoanthid, Corallizoanthus tsukaharai.^[2]

In Culture

Gold coral is prized in jewellery making for its iridescent qualities which are similar to tiger's eye.^[3]

The coral featured on TV in an Octonauts special episode, The Great Christmas Rescue, when a 500-year-old specimen was rescued from under a rockslide on a seamount.

References

↑ http://www.fws.gov/pacificremoteislandsmarinemonument/PP%20PRIMNM.pdf
↑ Sinniger F, Ocaña OV, Baco AR (2013), Diversity of Zoanthids (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) on Hawaiian Seamounts: Description of the Hawaiian Gold Coral and Additional Zoanthids. PLoS ONE 8(1): e52607. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052607
↑ Guide to Precious Coral

Corals and coral reefs

Stony corals	Scleractinia Blue coral Brain coral Elkhorn coral Hermatypic coral Chalice coral Pillar coral Staghorn coral Table coral

Soft corals	Alcyonacea Black coral Bamboo coral Organ pipe coral Sea fans Sea pens

Coral reefs	Atoll reef Cay Fringing reef Microatoll Coral reef fish Census of Coral Reefs The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs Catlin Seaview Survey

Coral regions	List of reefs Deep-water coral African coral reefs Andros, Bahamas Belize Barrier Reef Coral Sea Islands Coral Triangle Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Great Barrier Reef Maldives Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System New Caledonia Barrier Reef Pulley Ridge Raja Ampat Islands Red Sea Southeast Asian coral reefs

Coral diseases	Coral bleaching Black band disease Skeletal eroding band White band disease White pox disease

Protection	Coral Reef Alliance Coral reef protection Green Fins International Society for Reef Studies Project AWARE Reef Check Reef Ball

Other	Artificial reef Aquaculture of coral Coral dermatitis Precious coral Coral rag Coral reef organizations Coral sand Coralline alga Environmental issues with coral reefs Fire coral Reef resilience Rugosa (extinct) Symbiodinium Tabulata

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Hawaiian gold coral

In Culture

References

Further reading