The problem of Japanese names for corals (2): EDA-MIDORIISHI / HIME-EDA-MIDORIISHI

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the current problem of two Japanese names for corals, “Eda-midoriishi” and “Hime-eda-midoriishi”. Previously, the scientific name for “Eda-midoriishi” was Acropora tumida, and the scientific name for “Hime-eda-midoriishi” was Acropora pruinosa. The difference between the two species was thought to be the thickness of the branches. However, since Sugihara et al. (2015), the species traditionally recognized as A. tumida in Japan has been reconsidered to be a morphological variant of A. pruinosa based on reinspection of the type specimen. Furthermore, Nomura et al. (2016) have changed the Japanese name of A. pruinosa from “Hime-eda-midoriishi” to the older name “Eda-midoriishi”. The reinspection of the type specimen of A. tumida also revealed that the colony shape was corymbose forms, not thick arborescent forms as previously recognized. Since the current status of A. tumida in Japan has become unknown, its Japanese name remains undecided. Currently, due to insufficient publicity of these changes, there is some confusion in the use of the Japanese and scientific names. Therefore, this paper reiterates the following recommendations: A. pruinosa, the arborescent (thin to thick branches) species that is unique to the temperate region of Japan should be referred to by its Japanese name “Eda-midoriishi”. On the other hand, the current status of A. tumida in Japan is unknown and it does not have a Japanese name at present.