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VAUGHAN & WELLS (1943) and WELLS (1956) consider Rbizotrocbus as synonymous with Monomyces
, which has only one additional rootlet. ZIBROWIUS (1974a: 22 ) states that "Ie nombre de racines
ne justifie pas une separation generique de ces formes". Bur we separate again the two genera on grounds
of the number of its rootlets and feel us in accordance with ZIBROWIUS (personal communication, 1982),
who has revised his former opinion.
We could not locate EHRENBERG 's type of Monomyces antbopbyllum in the Museum in Berlin .
Rbr:.otrocbu s
Rbizorrocbus rypus MI LNE EDWARDS and HAIME , 1848
typllS
(Platt: 38, Figs. 1-4)
1848, MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME. 282 ; pI. 8116 (Type locali[)' : Singapore).
1906 •. v. MARENZELLER. 2l;pl. 2/5.
MARENZELLER ( 1906a) was the first, who reported this species from the northern and southern Red
Sea from depths of 780 and 212 m respectively (Stat. 165 and 143). We have four specimens before us,
collected by Prof. FRI CKE with his submersib le " Geo" in depths of 130 and 152 m in the Gulf of Aqaba
near Eilat.
The biggest one, Fri 41 - 2, measures 68 x 47 mm , the height of the conical part of the corallum is
35 mm . Number of septa 180, the sixth cycle is nearl), complete. Septal margins smooth, lateral faces
granular. Septa no n-exsert. Columella only very feebly ind icated . 16 recognizable rootlets, tubular, mostly
broken . The three other specimens are somewhat smaller but similar in every respect. Septa fewer in
numbers. No trace of columella.
Material:
Gulf of Aqaba : HLM Fri 41-2, 3, 4 (130 m), 46- 1 ( 15 2 m) (Eilat, lighthouse).
Dis t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea ; Singapore.
R em ark s : During t he Meseda I Expedition in October 1977 the research ship " Sonne" has trawled
two dead specimens of Rbizotrocbus typus at Station 66 {21 °25 , 20'N and 21 °26, 70'N, both 37°45 , 20'E)
in depths of 1135 and 104 3 m.
Genus Javania DUNCA , 1876
T y pes p e c i e s : Ja vania insignis DU NCAN , 1876.
G e n e r ic c h a r act e r s : Solitary or in sma ll clusters. Corallites attached by a pedicel which expands
to form a circular or compressed calyx. Major septa exsert with entire or serrated edges. Columella absent.
Epitheca present. Costae corresponding to the first two cycles of septa very prominent.
VAUGHAN & WELLS (1943) and WELLS (1956) treated Ja vania as a synonym, and DUNCAN (1884)
as a subgenus of Desmopbyllum EHRENBERG. However, CHEVALIER (1961) gave it the original generic
status and showed that it is more related to the genus Flabellum. ZIBROWIUS in his revision of the genus
Javania (1974a) confirmed the belonging of Javania to the family Flabellidae.
jatxJnia
insignis
Desmopbyllum jnsignis
irlng,,;s
Javania insignis DUNCAN, 1876
(Fig. 4 ; Plate 37, Figs. 9 - 12)
1876. DUNCAN, 43S ; pI. 39/ 11 - 13 (Type locality: Japan).
1906a. v. MARENZELLER. 23 opJ. 216.
1968. EGUCHI . C41 ; pI. C9/4- 9.
19742, ZIBROWIUS, 8 t pl. 1/ 1- 6.
This species was first mentio ned from the northern Red Sea by MARENZELLER (1906a) from a depth
of 825 m (Stat. 81). Prof. FR ICKE has collected in the Gulf of Aqaba with his submersible "Geo" two
specimens, which we have before us. He reported that he has seen many of these corals in a brillant white
in livi ng condition.