PDF - Eprints@CMFRI

107
We have also studied KLUNZINGER 's type of Orbicella laxa from Koseir, 0. 2193 in Berlin Museum .
Material :
Gulf of Aqaba : Basel PW 71 354 (Fara'un lsI. , 40 m) ; 73 694 (EI Kura).
orthern R. S.: HLM X2: 3- 19 ,22 (G uballsl.).
Central R. S.: HLM EC 1379 (Djiddah).
P. Sud . Sa 55 (Sanganeb R.).
HLM RM 80 (Wingate R.) .
Di strib ut ion: Red Sea ; Reunion ( FAURE, 1977) ; Great Barrier Reef; Solomon Isis. (PILLAI,
STODDART & MORTON, unpubl.).
R em ark s: STEPH ENSON & WELLS (1956) felt that F. laxa along with F. wakayana and F vacua
could be synonyms of Plesiastrea versipora . The presence of extratentacular buds in Flaxa as pointed out
by KLUNZINGER (1879) suggests its affinity to Plesiastrea. The possibility of F laxa being a geographical
variant of P. versipora cannot be overlooked .
MATTHAI 'S (1914) F. ananas is represented by one specimen ( BMN H 27 . 5. 12. 163) from Red Sea.
It is about 58 mm in greater spread. Only 8 to 10 septa reach the columella and the septal edges have poorly
developed teeth. MATTHAI adds that in F.allallas the asexual reproduction is by means of division, while
in F laxa both division and gemmation occurs. It is very likely that this specimen may fall within the
skeletal range of F. laxa.
Favia
Fa via helia11thoides WELLS , 1954
(Plate 26, Figs. 9, 10)
heliantboides 1954. WELLS, 458 i pI. 17412- 6 (Type locality : Bikini Atoll).
1974. W1JSMAN·BEST. 257; pI. 413.
1980, HEAD, 151 , 456.
We have only one specimen before us, collected by Prof. SCHRO EDER at the Sanganeb Reef in a depth
of about 15 m. It has a hi llocky growthform, about 70 mm high and with a diameter of 80 mm at the
base. The corallites are nodular, elevated, and considerably far aparr. Diameter of coraUites 7 to 9 mm,
diameter of the inner calices 3 to 4 mm. Septa 18 to 24 in number, all reach the columella and terminate
in paliform lobes, formi ng a prominent crown. Margins of septa finely dentate. A second set of septa
alternate with the principals and are very indistinct in the calices. Costae correspond to all septa and are
equal in size and very regularly crenellate.
Material:
Central R. S. : P. Sud. Sa 64 (Sanganeb R., 10- 16 m).
Dis t rib uti on: Red Sea; Molucca Sea ; Solomon Isis.; Marshall Isis.
R emarks : A specimen from Solomon Islands was identified by one of us (PILLAI, in 1970) as
F heliantboides, which was later sent to Dr. Maya WIjSMAN-BEST. She compared this with KLUNZINGER's
type of Orbicel/a taxa (personal communication) and opined the Solomon specimen matches F laxa in
every respecr. She merged these tWO species (WIjSMAN-BEST, 1972), but later separated them again (1974).
Also VERON, PI CHON & WIj SMAN-BEST (1977) stated that F laxa and F. helianthoides are not synonymous
with each other.
Favia pal/ida (DANA) , 1846
(Plate 27, Figs. I, 2)
AstraeQ
pallida
pal/ida
1846, DANA, 224; pI. 10/ 12 , 13a- e.
1876, HAECKEL. 19; fig. 16 (: DANA, 1872 . figs. p. 64).
1918. VAUGHAN. 105; pI. 38/1- 7 .
1971 , CHEVALIE R, 105 ; pis. 10/ 1- 4 , 6 ,1; 13/ 4. So 14/1 - 3; 17 / 1. 2 .
1972. WIjSMAN-BEST, 18 : pI. 213. 4 .
1974, MERCNER & SCHUHMACHER, 264.
1974, SCHEER & PILLAI, 45.
15 Zon\ogica. 1 Jj