dcsimg

Biology

provided by World Register of Marine Species
zooxanthellate

Reference

van der Land, J. (ed). (2008). UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms (URMO).

license
cc-by-4.0
copyright
WoRMS Editorial Board
contributor
Jacob van der Land [email]

Description

provided by World Register of Marine Species
Colonies form drooping plates and vertical spires, commonly in the same colony, especially when the colony is larger than about a metre tall and broad. Commonly vertical projections develop from the plates - these will develop into the large spires on the top of the future colony. The surface of each plate is commonly irregular. The colour is green, brown or cream, and tiny polyps can usually be distinguished in daytime (Sheppard, 1998). Colonies form flat laminae or plates, or fused nodules and columns. Corallites are usually aligned in irregular rows separated by low ridges. Septal structures are variable and irregular. Colour: Usually bright yellowish-green, sometimes brown. Abundance: Very common and frequently a dominant of lagoons and reef slopes. Usually conspicuous, both by coloration and abundance (Veron, 1986). Growth form usually a mixture of encrusting plates with short, lumpy columns. Colour: brownish-green or yellow. Habitat: deep lagoons and reef slopes (Richmond, 1997).

Reference

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 118 (Includes a picture).

license
cc-by-4.0
copyright
WoRMS Editorial Board
contributor
Edward Vanden Berghe [email]