An initial re-assessment of the population and distribution of the coral Anomastraea irregularis within the Watamu Marine National Park, Kenya, June 2018

Abstract

Anomastraea irregularis, the crisp pillow coral or irregular honeycomb coral, occurs in intertidal rockpools and along reefs It had anIUCN classification of Vulnerable from 2008 to 2023, but in 2024 it was re-assessed as least concern. It is relatively common in the Watamu Ma-rine National Park. Kenya. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event in 1998 resulted in the loss of c. 60–90% of corals along the Kenyan coast. The coral reef is slowly recovering. During June 2018, we tried to survey all suitable habitat for A. irregularis colonies during the spring low tides. A total of 57 A. irregularis colonies were located and mapped. The individual colony size ranged from 0.5×0.5 cm to 8.4×4.0 cm. The distribution map provides a baseline for future sur-veys of the distribution of A. irregularis within the park.