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addition: " Habite la mer Rouge". However, the type comes from the Seychelles (MAlTHAI 1914, pI. 23 ,
fig . 4). After having reexamined the type CHEVALIER is convinced (197 1: 148 and 161), in accordance
with ROSE (1968), that it is only Favia favus. Favia valenciennesi does not occur in the Red Sea.
Genus Favites LINK, 1807
T y pes pee i e s: Madrepora abdita EL LI S & SOLAND ER, 1786.
G e n e ric c h a r ae t e r s : Encrusting to massive, sometimes the surface rising to hillocks and
branches. Corallites cerioid , calices polygonal. Major septa of equal width at the thecal wall , often without
developed paliform lobes . Asexual reproduction by mono- to tristomodaeal intratentacular budding,
permanent condition monostomodaeal (but polycentric cond ition is found in F. bennettae VERON,
PICHO & WljSMAN-BEST , 1977).
Synopsis of Fa vites from Red Sea :
1. Corallum submassive, hemispherical, surface level. Corall ites polygonal, wall acu te at the top. CoraJlites
12 to 16 and up to 20 mm long and up to \0 mm deep. Septa very narrow with equidistant
serration at the edges. Pali conspicuous o n major septa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F. peresi
2. Corallum massive, hillocky. Corallites polygonal, \0 to 14 mm long and 7 to 10 mm broad, 4 to
7 mm deep. Intercorallite wall thick (J to 2 mm). Calices rounded wi th up to 60 septa. One side of
the corallites more elevated . Septal teeth well-formed . . ........... . ....... .. . .. .. . . F. abdita
3. Corallum usually massive , sometimes encrusting or with hillocks. Corallites up to 20 mm long, 14 mm
broad and 7 mm deep. Septa up to 50. Septal teeth secondarily frosted, giving a spiny look to the
coral. Maj or septa exsert and often continuous over the wall. . .... . ............. F. complanata
4 . Corallum massive or encrusting. Corallites 18 to 22 mm long, about 15 mm wide, 10 mm deep. Intercorallite
wall 2 to 3 mm thick. Septa up to 75 , steeply descending, narrow at the wall. Paliform lobes
absent. Septa unite at the top of the intercorallite wall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. F. flexuosa
5. Corallum encrusting or explanate. Corallites polygonal, 8 to 10 mm long, 6 to 8 mm broad, 4 to 5 mm
deep. Calices oval or circular. Septa 28 to 40. Exsert parts of septa generally stop at the middle of
the intercorallite wall with a groove. . .... .. .... . ............... . ........ . .... F. halicora
6. Corallum massive, rounded. Corallites polygonal , wall thin and acute at the top. Corallites 5 to 8 mm
in length , and about 3 to 4 mm deep. Septa 24 to 36 with feebly developed dentation. 0 paliform
lobes. . . ... ....... . . . ........ . .. .. ... . . .. . . . . . . . . ................ . .. . F. acuticollis
7. Corallum encrusting, massive or hillocky. Corallites polygonal,S to 8 mm long and wide , 3 to 5 mm
deep. Wall thickened up to 2 mm with a median raised thin ridge. Calices polygonal, oval or rounded .
Septa 24 to 36. Major septa with paliform lobes . . .... ... .. . .. . .... . .. .. ....... F. pentagona
Favites
peresi
Favites peresi FAU RE and PI CHON, 1978
(Plate 28, Figs. 4. 5)
1978, FAURE & PI CHON, 107 ; pis. 1- 5 (Type locality; Madagascar) ,
1980. HEAD. 151.457.
The foolowing is a generalized description of the specimens we have examined. Corallum massive,
hemispherical or expanding towards the top from a narrow base, in some cases the colonies are found
unattached. An epitheca often visible at the underside. Corallites cerioid , polygonal, tetra- or pentagonal,
12 to 16 mm long (in specimen NS 1325 they are 20 mm long and 10 mm deep), 8 to ~2 mm broad, 3 to
8 mm deep. Wall acute at the summit, getting thicker towards the bottom. Septal number varies according
to the size of the calices, for example a calyx 16 x 11 mm has a total of 55 septa and another 11 x 8 mm
has 36 septa excluding a set of rudimentary ones. Septa close-set of equal width throughout the length,
steeply descending, 14 to 18 septa meet the columell a. Two subsidiaries from either side generally turn
towards the central major septum before the latter unites with the columella. At the point of fusio n of