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Image of False Pillow Coral

False Pillow Coral

Pseudosiderastrea tayamai Yabe & Sugiyama 1935

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 are encrusting to submassive, up to 15 cm diameter. Corallites are monocentric, cerioid, with circular or irregular outlines. Calice diameters are 3 to 4 mm, and they can be 2 or 3 mm deep or very shallow in some specimens from stressed habitats, in which case they have a glassy appearance. Columellae are less than 0.5 mm diameter and consist of 1 - 5 small pegs sets in pits below the general level of the septa. Septa are equal, and show slightly concave slopes downwards towards the centre of the calice. In many calices there may be some lateral fusion of septa, and their top surface is heavily ornamented with teeth. Budding is extratentacular. The species is a fairly common inhabitant of reef slopes in shallow but sheltered water. (Sheppard, 1998 ) Colonies are encrusting to massive, dome-shaped, up to 160 mm in diameter. Corallites are cerioid, polygonal, 3-6 mm in diameter. Septa are evenly spaced and fuse with each other in fan-like groups. They have fine, saw-like teeth. Columellae consist of one to four pinnules. Colour: pale grey with distinctive white corallite walls. Abundance: Uncommon throughout its range. (Veron, 1986 )

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]