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G e n e ric c h a r act e r 5: Corallum foliaceous, thin, contorted, with slit-like perforations. CoralJites
shallow, without well-developed thecal wall. Septa in two cycles, septal edges with strong lacerated teeth.
Columella trabecular.
Oxypora /acera (VERRI LLl , 1864
(Plate 36, Figs. 5,6)
Tracbypora lacera 1864. VERRILL. 53 (Type localiry : Singapore).
Echinopbyllia laura 1905. GARDINER. 949, pI. 91 /26.
Oxypora lacera 1936. YASE, SUGIYAMA & EGUCHI . 51 ; p l~ 2916. 7, 1711. 2.
1954. WELLS, 468, pI. 17717. 8.
1954. ROSSI. 37; pis. 5/ 1,6/3.
1975 , CHEVALIER. 384 ; pis. 34/6; 35/ 1 (synonymy).
1976. PILLAI & SCHEER. 68.
1980, VERON & PICHON. J 14: figs. 546- 558. 807- 810.
1980. HEAD. 151 . 468.
lili:.iamensis 1936. VASE. SUGIYAMA & EGUCH I, 53 ; pis. 29/4 . 5: 3415: 5917.
The following is VERRILL'S original description of this species (1864: 53): "Broadly explanate and
gibbous, thin, with many irregular openings near the margin . Below coarsely and irregularly ribbed or
costate, the principal costae very thick, prominent, strongly echinate, the spines irregular, lacerately
lobed, smaller intermediate costae scarcely spinose. Upper surface covered by rather loose , very unequal
sepro-costal plates , which are deeply and irregularly divided into strong lacerate spines; the plates are
nearly parallel , except close ro the polyp centres, where t hey bend abruptly and unite with the columella.
The spines around the centres are large and srout, often broad at the ends; centres irregularly scattered,
from half an inch ro an inch distant."
We had the opportunity ro study a good number of specimens of Oxypora both from Maldives and
Red Sea, which enables us ro understand the skeletal variations. We are of t he opinion that O. titiziamensis
is nothing but a skeletal variant of the older species. The perforations of the corallum and the nature of
the costal dental ion are characters that are subjected ro variation in different coralla. In general younger
specimens have more perforations than the older ones. In older coralla the perforations get secondarily
filled .
Materi a l :
Gulf of Aqaba :
orthern R. S.:
Jerus. SLR 1167 (Marsa el Muqeibla).
Jerus. SLR 822 (Ras Muhammad).
T. Aviv NS 9287 (Marsa eI At); 1867 , 1869a (Ras Muhammad).
HLM X2 : 3- 6 (Guballs!.).
Central R. S.: P. Sud. Sa 32 (Sanganeb R. ).
Southern R. S.: HLM EC 413c (Massawa ).
Dis t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea; Madagascar (PICHON , 1964); Reunion; Maldives ; Singapore; China Sea;
Japan; Palau 1515.; Amboina; Great Barrier Reef; New Caledonia; Loyalty 1515. ; Marshall 1515.
4 . Suborder Caryophylliina VAUGHAN and WE LLS, 1943
Superfamily Caryophylliicae GRAY , 1847
Family Caryophylliidae GRAY, 1847
Subfamily CaryophyLliinae GRAY, 1847
Genus Caryopbyllia LAMARCK , 1801
T Y pe s p e c i e 5: Madrepora cyatbus ELLIS & SOLANDER, 1786
G e n e ric c h a r act e r 5, Solitary, 'arely in fused masses or clusters, turbinate or cornuate, free or
fixed . Calices circular or elliptica!. Columella fasciculate. Septa in distinct cycles. Pali conspicuous in
one crown . Costae present.