PDF - Eprints@CMFRI

101
The following description is based on EC 380. Corallum ramose, branches subdividing two to three
times. Total height of the corallum 18 cm. Lower portion dead . Living layer extend from 5 to 6 cm from
top to bottom. Topmost branches 5 to 6 cm long, 12 to 20 mm broad at the tip, tip a little flattened
(compressed), rounded (obtuse) or rarely digitiform. Calices polygonal, 1.25 to 1.75 mm in length, shallow
but not superficial; wall thin, mural denticles not very conspicuous, wall wavy and interrupted at places.
Septa begin a little below the summit of the wall, the ventral triplet fused together, edges with 2 or 3
denticles, which are small and lacerated. Pali very poorly developed , better to seen under a lens, 4 to 6 in
numbers. Columella looks solid, a central style standing below the level of the lateral pairs of pali. Septa
steeply descending from the wall. Interseptal loculi thinner than the septa. Neither the pali nor the septal
denticles in this species are conspicuous anywhere.
Mate ri a l :
Southern R. S. : HLM X2 : 13 - 1 (Sarso Isl.).
EC 377- 386 (Massawa).
Di s t rib uti 0 n: Recorded only from Red Sea.
Porites compressa DANA , 1846
(Plate 25 . Figs. 5, 6)
Porites compresSIJ 1846 , DANA, SS3 ; pl. 53 /5, Sa (Type locality: Fiji).
1907. VAUGHAN, 174; pis. 67 : 68 /3 (numt:r. add it. figs. of various (ormae on pis. 68- 78).
1955. NEMENZO, 31.
1967 , PILLAI, 122: pI. 1/3 .
1973, PILLAI & SCHEER, 471.
1974, PILLAI & SCHEER. 459; fig. 6c.
The present specimen, EC 375 , is an entire colony with a total height of 27 cm and a greater spread
of 32 cm . The growthform is similar to VAUGHAN 's forma conjullgens 0907: 179, pI. 71, figs . 2, 2a) in
having "ascending irregularly constricted nodulose columns, rising from a ramose base" . Total height of
columns 10 to 15 cm with branches at the top, fused below. Living zone extends to half the height. Tip
of columns mostly compressed , 2 to 5 cm broad, 1.5 to 2 em thick . Corallites polygonal, 1.25 to 1.75 mm
in length, mostly 1.5 mm, I mm deep. Wall thin , straight o r a little zig-zag with a single row of denticles.
Septa thin, interseptal loculi wider than septa, t he ventral triplet does nOt fuse to form a trident. Between
the palus and the wall a frosted septal denticle present, often higher than the paluso Palar formula rarely
complete. Five pali , those of the ventral directive and the lateral pairs of septa prominent and equal in
height, a sixth one often seen on the dorsal directive. A more or less complete ring of synapticulae present
below the pali. Columella styli form, joined to the fused ends of septa by radii. Septa and mural elements
granular.
EC 299 is a branch and differs from EC 375 in having very shallow calices .
Mater i al :
orthern R. S.: HLM EC 299 (Ras Abu Hagar).
Southern R . 5.: HLM EC 375 (Massawa).
Di s t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea; Mascarene Archipelago; Gulf of Mannar; Str. of Malacca; Philippines;
Palau Islands (EGUC HI , 1938); Hawaii.
Rem ark s : This seems ro be the first record of this species from Red Sea.
B. Species with coenenchyme between the corallites: Subgenus Synaraea VERRILL, 1864.
I. Corallum ramose .
Porites (Sy"araea) iwayamaellsis EGUCH I, 1938
(Plate 25 . Figs. 7. 8)
Porites rwayo mfJl!nSH 1938, EGUCHI, 385 .
Por. (5y".) iwayamaensis 1954, WE U.s. 455 ; pI. 170/ 3- 5 (synonymy).
1974. PILLAI & SCHEER. 4 59; fig. 7b.
Porius Caroline Islands 1 1905 . BERNARD. 94; pis. 9/5 ; 121 1- 3.