PDF - Eprints@CMFRI

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Primaries and secondaries unite with the columella without any fusion. The fifth, fourth and third unite
and reach the columella. Septa very little exsert, steeply descending. Primaries and secondaries thickened
at the wall , a little broader above than below. Edges of major septa entire, those of higher cycles serrated.
Septa perforate behind. Septal sides granular. Columella in a large corallite less than 1 mm broad and
about half the diameter of the calyx long, not projecting, suggesting septal fusion. Costae with rows of
rounded granules extend to the base of the corallites, which is mostly covered by a thin epitheca.
Mate rial :
Gulf of Aqaba:
Jerus.
T. Aviv
SLR
NS
647 (Marsa Abu Zabad).
E55 /149 I, 55 1156, 55 /213 (Eilat) ; 1844 (Shu rat al Manqata); E57/227
(Marsa Abu Zabad).
Northern R. S.: Jerus. SLR 1658 (Ras Nasrani).
T. Aviv S 5931 (Ras Muhammad).
Central R. S.: P. Sud. Sa 86a (Sanganeb R.).
HLM RM 98 (Wingate R.).
Dis t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea ; Seychelles.
. Rem ark s: Rbodopsommia affinis (SEMPER, 1872) is very near to the present species. The major
dlffe~ence seems to be In the nature of the columella. i. e. in R. affinis it is projecting, while in B. gemmifeTa
It IS small and level. KLUNZINGER (1879) obviously has not consulted SEMPER'S work (1872), as
far as one can understand from the list of literature cited by KLUNZINGER . Another species that might
ultimately prove to be similar to the present species is DendTopbyllia serpentina VAUGH A ,1907.
Balanopbyllia diffusa HARRISON and POOLE , 1909
Balanopbyllia diffusa 1909, HARRISON & POOLE. 906: pI. 85/4., b (Type locality : Hastings Harbour. Mergui
Archipelago).
1919, GARDINER & WAUCH. 239; pis. 1/3; 214.
This species was recorded from the Red Sea for the first time by GARDI ER & WAUGH (1939) from
a depth of 366 m (Stat. 209) in the southern part.
Dis t rib uti 0 n: Red Sea; Maldives; Mergui Archipelago.
Rem ark s : ZI BROW IUS supposes (pers. comm.) that B. diffusa sensu GARDINER & WAUGH IS
different from the typical form of HARRISON & POOLE.
cf Balanopbyllia cumingii MILNE EDWARDS and HAIME, 1848
(Plate 38 , Figs. 8 , 9)
Balonopbylli4 cuming;; 1848, MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME. 87 ; pI. 118 (Type locality: Philippines),
1905, BOURNE, 209; pI. 217, 7 •.
1939, GARDINER & WAUGH , 238; pI. 111.
1968, EGUCHI, CS1 ; pI. C2117,8.
Rhodopsammia ow/is 1872. SEMPER. 262; pI. 1919a. h.
We have one specimen, collected by Prof. FRICKE with his submersible " Geo" in a depth of 138 m,
that we place near B. cumingii. It consists of two living corallites which seem to be budding out of a now
dead corallite. At the base of the broken mother corallite are twO smaller ones, now dead and decayed.
The two living corallites are about 20 mm high, at the base 10 mm in diameter, the calices measure 17 by
13 mm, depth of calices 9 and 12 mm resp. The longer sides of the calices nearly parallel.
The first two cycle septa are nearly equal, they are perforated towards the thecal ends, and they
descend steeply to the columella. Edges of septa sharp, sides covered with granules and fine striations
parallel to the margin. The higher cycle septa are narrower and serrated . The tertiaries reach the columella,
toO ; the quarternaries are complete in number and join more or less down to the tertiaries; the septa of
the incomplete fifth cycle join to the fourth.
The base of the living corallites is covered with a very thin and inconspicuous epitheca. The costae
are covered with short spines, the narrow furrows between them consist of rows of perforations .