The occurrence of Scolymia cubensis in Brazil: revising the problem of the Caribbean solitary mussids
Author
Neves, Elizabeth
Author
Johnsson, Rodrigo
Author
Sampaio, Claudio
Author
Pichon, Michel
text
Zootaxa
2006
1366
45
54
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.174809
45953d81-b871-473e-a973-7dccaa1c2b11
1175-5326
174809
1.
Scolymia lacera
(
Pallas, 1766
)
Material examined:
USNM
53149 (Gulf of
Mexico
, Florida,
USA
).
Diagnosis
:
Wells (1964)
: 381–382, pl. XXII, figs. 5, 6
Distribution
:
Curaçao
,
Bonaire
,
Jamaica
,
Cuba
,
Bahamas
, South Florida.
In
: Wells (1964,1971),
Lang (1971)
,
Zlatarski and Estalella (1982)
Holotype
:
lost (no number)
Description
: Solitary attached corallum varying from concave, slightly flabelloid to discoidal forms, rounded; thick primary septa, wide triangular-shaped dentition (septal teeth numerous, regularly distributed); diameter in adult individuals around
10–12 cm
(maximum of about
15 cm
); parathecal walls; costae coarsely spined; septa lateral spines are low and concentrated along midline of the dentations, spongy columella usually elliptical.
Remarks
: According to
Lang (1971)
‘fleshy
Scolymia
’ (
S. lacera
) shows highly agressive interactions with ‘smooth
Scolymia
’ (
S. cubensis
), also attacking other neighboring corals by extruding the mesenterial filaments.
Scolymia lacera
has been reported in deeper zones being eventually abundant in depths of
30 to 60 m
on Jamaican reefs (known bathymetric range:
25 to 140 m
). Largest solitary monostomodeal coral in the West Indies. Dentition more regular than that of
S. cubensis
and
S. wellsi
.