PDF - Eprints@CMFRI

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Also the extension of the axial fossa to either ends of the corallum inH. simplex, as GARDINER (1905)
assumes, is no specific character. There are specimens with shorter fossa and, on the other hand, specimens
of F. ecbinata with long extending grooves.
BOSCHMA (192 5) supposes that H. simplex has smaller costal spines and stronger granulated septa of
heigher orders than F. ecbinata. After VERON & PICHO (1980) the tWO forms differ in the following
way: "Adult H. simplex are always polycentric, have more numerous, less alternating septa with triangular
rather than lobate tentations with a thickened axial rod , and more numerous costal spines." We believe
that all these differences are lying within the skeletal variability.
Therefore we propose to put together the two forms and to raise the subgenus Ctenactis again into
the rank of a genus, as already recommended by VERR ILL (1864).
MadrepON
Halig/oull
Cuna"is
Halig/ossa
Fungio
Htrpelo/irbas
Fungia
HaUg/ossa
HerpetoJitbas
Htrpo/itba
HerpeloglosSQ
ecbinata
ecbinala
ecbinalQ
ecbinala
ecbiruull
ebrenbergi;
ehrenberg;
pectinata
rueppellii
simplex
simplex
Ctenactis ecbinata (PALLAS), 1766
(Plate 20, Figs. 6- 9)
1766. PALLAS. 284 (Type locality: Indian Ocean).
1834, EHRENBERG. 274 (No. 780 in Mu~um Berlin).
1864 . VERRILL, SI.
1879, KLUNZINGER 3,67.
1902, DOEDERLEIN. lOl ;pi. 10/ 1- $ (synonymy>,
1906, v. MARENZELLER, 63.
1954, ROSSI,41.
1967. SCHEER, 428.
1971 . LOVA & SLOBODKIN. 123.
1974. SCHEER & PILLAI. 37 (synonymy).
1976. PI LLAI & SCHEER, 43.
1979. SCHUHMACHER, 210.
1980. VERON & PICHON, 169; figs. 283-289.
1980. HEA D, 150.453.
1841 , LEUCKART, 52; pI. 2/1 - 3.
1860. MILNE EDWARDS ( & HAIME), 14.
1889. ORTt\1ANN. 521.
1879. KLUNZINGER 3,66.
1841, LEUCKART. 54 ; pI. 111 - 3.
1905, GARDINER, 943 ; pI. 91113.
1925, BOSCH~IA . 223 ; pI. 7/68- 70.
1955. NEMENZO, 76; pI. 14/2.4.
1966, WELLS , 241.
1980, VERON & PICHON, 173 ; figs. 290- 293.
There are 24 specimens of this species in the present collections. All pieces have an elongate shape
with an axial furrow extending more or less over the entire length of the corallum. The largest specimen
before us is 28 cm long. In one of the specimens (Rtvl 72) the corallum is four-lobed. The axial fossa
extends to all the four arms.
After the combination of Fungia ecbinata and Herpetoglossa simplex the present species is easily to
identify by virtue of the characteristic form, the septal dentation and the costal spines. The axial furrow
can be monocenrric or polycentric by fusion of opposite septa.
Material :
Gulf of Aqaba :
orthern R. S.:
Central R. S.:
Southern R. .:
Jerus.
T . Aviv
T. Aviv
HLM
P. Sud.
HLM
HLM
SLR
NS
S
X2:
EC
Sa
RM
X2 :
EC
395 - 2,3,4,5 , 7, 1275 (Marsa Murach).
230, 9290 (Eilat); 1883 (Dahab).
1868 (Ras Muhammad).
3-38 (Guballsl.)
473 (Ras Abu Suma); 62 (Koseir, duplicate from KLUNZINGER );
296 (Ras Abu Hagar).
12 (Sanganeb R. ).
14, 17 , 17a, 72 (Wingate R.).
10- 5, 10- 13 (Sarso 151.).
365 , 366 , 367 (Mas5awa).