Biology
provided by World Register of Marine Species
zooxanthellate
van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).
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Description
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Thick encrusting sheets or low massive forms, sometimes with leafy edges to the colony. This species has regular shaped, rounded tuberculae up to 0.6 cm across. This coral is similar to M. danae, but the tuberculae are smaller, more regular and rounded. Calices lie between the tuberculae as in M. danae, but are deeper. It is common on reef slopes from 5 to 25 m deep (Sheppard, 1998). Colonies are submassive or plate-like with the surface uniformly covered with tuberculae, like those of M.dDanae. Corallites are immersed between tuberculae. Colour: blue or brown, uniform or mottled. Bright-blue or green polyps are extended during the day. Abundance: common on upper reef slopes or lagoons (Veron, 1986). Tropical Indo-Pacific in Kalk (1958).
Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 118 (Includes a picture).
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