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We have only one specimen before us, which we owe to Dr. SCHUHMACHER, who has collected this
species for the first time in the Red Sea at Eilat.
The corallum is elongated and oval , 12 cm long and 6.5 cm broad. The central part of the upper surface
is very arched along the axial fossa, which is 5.5 cm in length. Here the height of the corallum IS
about 4 cm. Septa are unequal, at the marginal part of the corallum irregularly fusing together. Edges of
projecting septa dentate to lacerate, the lower ones of higher orders granulate. Costae heavily granulated
with knob-like papillae, only at the periphery unequal. Lateral Sides of upper surface with numetous
secondary calices, which give a contorted appearance to the corallum.
Mat e ria I: Gulf of Aqaba: SCHUHMACHER No . 2/ I 0 (Eilat).
Dis t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea; Nicobar IsIs .; Mergui Archipelago; Philippines; Moluccas; Great Barrier
Reef.
Rem ark s: F. moluccensis has some resemblance to Cyc/oseris somervillei GARDINER, 1909, wit h
which it can be confounded . C. somervillei does not occur in the Red Sea.
FUllgia granulosa KLU ZINGER , 1879
(Plate 18. Fig. 2)
Fungia granulosa 1879. KlUNZINCER 3, 65; pis. 713; 8/3 (Type locality: Red Sea).
1902. DOEDERLEIN, 108: pI. II /I- ib.
1906 . v. MARENZELLER, 89.
1909, GARDINER, 276.
1921 . v. d. HORST. 63 : pI. 1/8.
1974. MERGNER & SCHUHMACHER. 264.
1979 , SCHUHMACHER, 214, fig. 5:225. figs. 19 (ccntrt), 20 (cc=nt rr).
1980. VERON & PICHON. 156: figs. 257- 263 .
1980. HEAD. 150.453.
Strombodes bempricbii ? 1834 . EHRENBERG. 211.
The following is a generalized description of the species based on the present collections. Young as
usual attached. Disc of adults rounded, 8 to 10 mm thick, slightly elevated around the axial fossa . Underside
flat or arched. Greater diameter up to 8 cm . Axial fossa in large specimens about 2 cm long.
Two of the specimens (NS 9300 and 9301 ) are with secondary mouths (J and 8 respectively), each
with a columellar centre. This feature is not mentioned either by KLUNZINGER or by DOEDERLEIN,
though the latter author's figure shows clearly one.
Major septa thick, wavy , subequal in thickness. All septa of the same height at the periphery of the
corallum. At the junction of the lower and higher cycles of septa the latter at first a little low, but suddenly
spring up to the level of the former. Septal edges entire, i. e. without any well developed teeth, though in
some cases they are granular. In thin septa the edges are microscopically serrated. Septal sides profusely
granular. Columella fills the entire bottom of the axial fossa, looks solid to the naked eye. Costae very
thin , extend to the centre of the disc, but mostly represented by a row of fine rounded grains. In older
specimens the grains fuse to form irregular swellings. But for these neither ridges nor teeth are developed
at the lower sid e. In NS 9299 the grains representing costae do nor extend to the centre of the disc,
where it is smooth.
Materia l:
Gulf of Suez : Jerus. SLR 859 (Et Tur).
Gulf of Aqaba: Jerus. SLR 395 - 8,9 (Marsa Murach).
T. Aviv S 9297 , 9299, 9300,9301 (Eilat).
Basel PW 73585 (Eilat).
Central R. S.: P. Sud . Sa 109, 109a (Sanganeb R. ).
HLM RM 75 (Wingate R.).
Dis t rib uti 0 n : Red Sea ; Philippines; Moluccas; Great Barrier Reef.
Rem ark s: The type of Strombodes bempricbii EHRENBERG is o. 608 in the Museum of Berlin .
As already pointed out by KLUNZINGER it is a young Fungia in its attached stage. It is rather difficult to
judge its identity with F. granulosa .