Biology:Hawaiian gold coral

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Short description: Species of coral

Hawaiian gold coral
Hawaiian-gold-coral.jpg
Kulamanamana haumeaae
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Zoantharia
Family: Parazoanthidae
Genus: Kulamanamana
Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013
Species:
K. haumeaae
Binomial name
Kulamanamana haumeaae
Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013

Hawaiian gold coral (Kulamanamana haumeaae) is a rare, extremely long-lived deep-sea coral found on seamounts near Hawaii. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Kulamanamana. 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 jewelry

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

The skeletons of such corals and the products made from them are highly valuable. However, unprocessed skeleton material is now rare as it is no longer commercially harvested in Hawaii. International trade therefore primarily consists of jewellery made from premoratorium stock, which may be decades old.[3]

References

Golden Spider Coral

Further reading

Sinniger, F. (2013). "Kulamanamana Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=715089. 

Wikidata ☰ Q13378261 entry