Ahermatypic corals (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae, Oculinidae and Rhizangiidae) recorded from submarine caves in Hong Kong
Author
Lam, Katherine
Author
Morton, Brian
Author
Hodgson, Paul
text
Journal of Natural History
2008
2008-03-31
42
9 - 12
729
747
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930701862724
journal article
10.1080/00222930701862724
1464-5262
5224891
Dendrophyllia ehrenbergiana
(
Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1848
)
(
Figure 1J–L
)
Coenopsammia ehrenbergiana
Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1848
Dendrophyllia coarctata
Duncan, 1886:17–18
, Plate 1, Figs 27, 28;
Ogawa and Takahashi 1995:21
, Plate 6, Fig. 8–13, Plate 7, Fig. 10–11
Dendrophyllia ehrenbergiana
van der Horst, 1922:55
, Plate VII,
Figs 3–4
Description
Colonial coralla of this species which occur in Hong Kong’s marine caves are phaceloid with short polyps (up to,
8 mm
in height, and
14.6 mm
and
10.2 mm
in longer and shorter diameters, respectively) and have a thick epithecal wall. Dendroid colonies are also known (
Scott 1984
). New polyps develop by extratentacular budding on basal expansions. Colony size ranges from
40 mm
to
60 mm
in length and width and
20–40 mm
in height. Corallite is oval, with a length ranging from
8–12 mm
, width from
6–10 mm
and height from
5–9 mm
. Septal order is hexameral with a duplicate P. plan and in four cycles. Ventral septa in five cycles. The triple P. plan is formed by fusion of one pair of S
5
with one S
3
in
between. Columella is compressed and spongy. Living colony is orange or rose red.
Distribution
Ambon
(
van der Horst 1922
),
Japan
(
Ogawa and Takahashi 1995
) and Conic Island marine cave in
Hong Kong
(this study).