Yellow Cup Coral
Leptopsammia pruvoti
Sighting evidence at Stromboli Volcanic Wall, Aeolian Islands
Photo: João Pedro Silva · CC BY-NC
The shaded overhangs and vertical faces of Stromboli's basalt wall host spectacular communities of yellow cup coral, their golden polyps extending fully in the current-rich water that bathes the volcano's flanks. These azooxanthellate corals grow slowly and indicate stable, well-oxygenated conditions that have persisted here for decades despite the volcano's activity. Their presence alongside deep-water sponge communities creates one of the most colourful wall communities in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Yellow Cup Coral is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.