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Distri b uti o n : Red Sea; Mascarene Archipe lago; Gulf of Mannar (PILLAI, 1972); Ceylon (ORT­
MAN ); Str. of Malacca ; Singapore; East Indies; Great Barrier Reef; Ponape (Caroline Isls _) ; Rotuma;
Marshall Isis. ; Fiji Isis.; Tongatabu (Tonga Isis.).
Rem ark s: Field study of a large colony of this species from Krusadai Island in the Gulf of Mannar
has convinced one of us (PILLA I), that P. venosa var. arbuscula UMBGROVE is only a growthform of this
species. The type of Tichoseris angulosa ORTMANN can very well be a worn-out portion of the basal encrustation
of P. divaricata.
Additional rem a rks on the genus Pavona :
The first record of P. clavus (DANA ) from the Red Sea is that of LOVA & SLOBODKIN (1971), but
they have not described nor figured it. Later on HEAD ( 1980) collected two further specimens of this
species which he describes as approaching P. explanlilata.
Several other specimens were provisionally identified as P. cf diffillens by HEAD (1980). He writes
that better specimens are required to confirm the specific characters.
Genus Leptoseris MIL NE EDWA RDS & HAlhIE , 1849
Types species: Leptoseris fragilis MILNE EDWARDS & HAlME , 1849.
G e n e ric c h a r ae t e r s : Hermatypic; encrusting, foliaceous or ramose, unifacial. Secondary
calices often arranged around a central mother calyx. Lower wall of the cora Hites a little projecting.
Septa close together, confluent between calices. Intercorallite area, i. e. between the rows of calices, flat
or slightly convex, rarely collines developed.
Recently the genus received a revision by Zena DINESEN (1980). The genus is known from Red Sea
by seven species.
Synopsis of Leptoseris from Red Sea:
A. Corallum encrusting, plate- or saucer-shaped or foliaceous.
I. Septocostae strongly alternating. .
1. First order septocostae dentate ; second order sometimes with smaller denticies, but frequently
non-dentate. . ... .. ... . .. . . . .. . ........................... L. scabra
2. First and second order septocostae non-dentate. ............... ..... . L. explanata
II. Septocostae equal or subequal. Margin of septocostae non-dentate, more or less granulated.
a) Corallum with collines parallel to the margin.
3. Collines prominent, often intersected by ridges ..... . ..... ___ •... L. mycetoseroides
4. Collines only feebly developed. Calices small. . .... . . . ... . . . .... ...... . . L. tenuis
b) Corallum withous such collines.
S. Calices distinct, sometimes in more or less co ncentric rows ..... •... . ... L. hawaiiensis
6. Only few calices in the centre of the corallum ........ . .... . . . •.......... L. fragilis
B. Corallum erect and branched.
7 . Branches I to 2 em broad. Corallites projecting. . . . .. .. ...... . . . ...... L. gardineri
Leptoseris scabra VAUGHAN , 1907
Leptoser1S
scab~
1907. VAUGHAN. 139; pI. 4J11 . lao 2 (Typ~ locaJity : Hawaii),
1954. WELLS, 444 ; pI. ISS / I. 2.
1976. PILLAI &: SCHEER. 40 (pars): pI. 17/4.
1980, VERON & PICHON, 48 : figs. 83 - 91 . 739.
1980, DINES EN. 194 : pi s. 8/ 1- 3; 9/ 1- 3.
1980, HEAD. 149. 449.