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fore seemed advisable to regard all as variations of one species , common to the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific
Oceans".
MARENZELLER (1901: 122) refused BROOK 'S " prekare Theorie der Ubiquitiit" and gave another
interpretation in the description of his new species Acropora eminens (1906:56). He shared BROOK 's
opinion that KLUNZINGE R's M. superba is M. muricata from the Westindies. He supposed that EHRE -
BERG 's specimens of H. taxa were lost in course of time and only a label remained, which was placed on
an Acropora where it does not belong. MARENZELLE R stated: " Durch diese Aufkliirung wird der Annahme,
A. muricata lebe auch im Roten Meere, der Boden entzogen."
We do not agree neither with MARENZELLER nor with BROOK, but rather suppose KLUNZINGER 's
specimen of his M. superba comes really from Red Sea. After a comparision with other arborescent
species we consider it as related to Acropora nobilis.
Because the types of M. superba and H.laxa could not be found in the Museum at Berlin, the position
of M. superba is still uncertain.
Heteropora taxa 1834, EHR ENBERG , 334.
Here we agree with BROOK and put this species provisionally to Acropora cervicornis.
Genus Montipora de BLArNVILLE, 183 0
Ty pes pee i e s: M01l!ipora verrucosa QUOY & GA IMARD , 1833.
G e n e ric c h a r ae t e r s: Encrusting, massive, foliaceous or ramose. Axial corallite absent. Corallites
more o r less I mm in diameter, fundamentally without elevated thecal wall . Septa in two cycles.
A true columella absent.
BERNARD (1897) arranged the 142 species dealt with by him under four major heads, based on the
nature of the surface coenenchyme, as to glabrous, foveolate, papillate and tuberculate. Among these
truly glabrous forms of Montipora are hitherto not recorded from Red Sea. The following is an artificial
key to the 12 species of Montipo ra known from Red Sea and discussed herein .
Synopsis of Montipora from Red Sea :
A. Surface coenen chyme swells up either in the interstices or around the calices as ramparts or foveolations.
I . Corallum encrusting or submassive. Calices 0.7 to I mm in diameter, surrounded by
foveolations. Septa 12 .............. ... ... ... .. .. ..... . . .. .. . ..... M. veno sa
B. Interstitial coenenchyme forms conical, nipple-shaped or rounded projections as papillae, which
remain either single or run together.
I. Corallum massive or encrusting. Surface with or without nodular coalescent branches.
a) Papillae irregular, three or four fuse to fo rm excrescences.
2. Individual papillae I to 1.5 mm thick and high. 3 to 5 papillae fuse to form small excrescences
bearing calices; in between the coenenchym is smooth. Ca li ces 0.6 to 0.7 mm .
.. . . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . ' ... " ....... .. ... .... .... .. . .. ... .. . .... M. spumosa
3. Papillae more or less I mm in height and thick. They fuse to form sharp crests. Interstices
with flame -l ike small papillae. Calices average 0 .5 mm, inconspicuous. Surface without
nodular branches ... . . .. . . ............... . ..... . . .... . .. ...... M. tuberculosa
4 . Individual papillae 1 to 1.5 mm thick and 2 to 3 mm high. Often fuse to form ridges. Some
areas with foveolations. Cal ices 0.6 to 0.7 mm, hidden from view .. .. ... M. monasteriata
b) Papillae more regular, nipple-shaped or rounded with or without fusion fo rming ridges.
5. Papillae nipple-shaped. Individual ones occupy the entire interstices. On branches, when
developed, they unite to form ridges 2 to 3 mm high . Calices 0 .6 to 0.8 mm in diameter
with a wall . Septa six ................ . .. ......... .. . ....... . .... M. verrucosa
6. Papillae bursiform or rounded, 3 to 7 mm in diameter and height, often run together to
form meand roid ridges. Calices very conspicuous, more or less 1 mm ..... M. meandrina