PDF - Eprints@CMFRI

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1971. CHEVALIER, 197 ; pIs. 1014; 2113; 2214 ; 23/ 5, 6 ; 25 / 1. 2.; 2811 (pI. 20/5 and 2111
represent probably Favites co mpLmata).
1974. SCHEER & PILLAI . 49.
1976. PI LLA I & SCHEER. 57.
1977. VERON. PICHON & WIJSMAN·BEST. 59; [;gs. 97-101.4 34 (synonymy).
1980. HEAD. 151 .457.
? cbi,umsis 1972, WIJ SMAN· BEST. 31; pI. 5/4.
1974. MERGNER & SCHUHMA CHER, 264.
This is a species wh ich shows wide skeletal variation, and in fact, some of the specimens are close to
F. abdita and others to F. comp/anata . However, typical forms are separable on reasonably safe grounds.
We place 16 specimens from the present collection under this species. Superficially they present a heterogeneous
assemblage. The followi ng are the details:
RM 45 is submassive, ex planate with a greater spread of 12 cm . Coralli tes polygonal to hexagonal,
8 to 10 mm long, 6 to 8 mm broad, 4 to 5 mm deep. Calices oval or rarely polygonal. Septa 28 to 40 in
different calices , not including the spiny ones intercalated. Septa thin, interseptal loculi wider than the
thickness of the septa. Septa exsert, narrower at the upper half than at the lower ,edges with 8 to 10 teeth,
the last tooth simulating a palus. Septa of the adjacent corallites scarcely meet over the intercorallite wall .
Columella oval or circular in outli ne, composed of closely twisted trabeculae to which 14 to 20 major
septa unite. Subsidiary septa unite with the sides of the major ones. Asexual reproduction by unequal
fission .
EC 480 resembles MATTHAl's (19 14) plate 26, fig. 6. It is submassive, corallites and calices oval or
circular. Thecal rim sligh tly projecting with deep intercorallite furrows. Wall 1 to 1.5 mm thick. Larger
calices up to 12 mm in diameter. EC 458 resembles EC 480 but has thinner intercorallite walls (less than
1 mm).
X2: 9-3 is encrusting. Corall ites and calices polygonal, calices 8 to 10 mm long but very shallow,
depth 2 to 3 mm . Major septa have only 5 to 6 teeth.
PW 71 339 is a massive growth. Both the calices and the corallites are circular or ova l, very shallow.
The paliform lobes in this specimen are very well developed, forming a conspicuous ring around t he
columella.
Ma terial:
Gulf of Aqaba:
orthern R. S.:
T. Aviv
Basel
HLM
USNM
HLM
NS
PW
EC
Wa
EC
928 5 (Eilat) ; 4931, 4984 (Dahab).
71 33 9 (Fara'un 151., 40 m).
458 (Eilat).
64,65,66 (Ghardaqa).
480 (Ras Abu Suma); 69,71, 161 (Koseir, EC 71 duplicate from
KL UNZINGER as G071 ;astraea balicora ); 309 (Ras Ab u Hagar).
Central R. S.: HLM RM 45 (Wingate R.).
Southern R. S.: HLM X2: 9-3 (Sarso Isl.) .
Dis t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea eastward into the Indo-Pacific as far east as Samoa and Loyalty Isis. For
various localities see CHEV ALI ER, 1971.
Favites acuticoliis (ORTMANN ), 1889
( PhI.re 29, Fig. 3)
Prio7lQstraea aCUlicollis 1889. ORTMANN. 528; pI. 16 / 11 (Type locality : Ceylon).
Favius acut icollis 1971 , CHEVALIER, 20S : pis. 2112 ; 23/4.
1972, WIjSMAN -BEST, 32 ; pI. 6/4.
yamanarii
var. profunda 1939. UMBROVE, 31: pI. 412- 4 .
One specimen is placed unter this species. The polygonal corallites are 5 to 6 mm in length. Wall fused.
Corallites penta- to hexagonal, calices rounded or oval, 3 to 4 mm deep. Septa 24 to 32, subequal, close
together; edges with frosted dentation. Septa continuous over the wall or alternating with those of adjacent
corallites. Columella trabecular. Pali form lobes not developed.