Montipora cf. aequituberculata Bernard, 1897

Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, Zootaxa 3636 (1), pp. 101-143 : 105-106

Montipora cf. aequituberculata Bernard, 1897

( Fig. 4 )

Material: ZUTC Cnid. 1003, colony fragment, Larak Island, 26° 53' 14.4" N, 56° 23' 43.4" E, Coll. J. Vajed Samiei, November 2010.

Taxonomic note: There are many species in the genus Montipora . The following species share many similar characteristics with M. aequituberculata and some other species (see: Veron, 2000). The following species have been called with the latter name in some local studies (e.g. Claereboudt, 2006).

Identification guide: Veron (2000)

Notes for local identification: Colonies are encrusting, dark brown with white margins. Colonies infected by polychaetes or gastropods ( Vermetidae ) have a high tendency to form columnar structures. Thecal and coenostial papillae are not uniform in size.

Abundance: Common.

Depth of occurrence: About 3 m.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Montipora cf. aequituberculata, a, exoskeleton; b & d, close ups of corallites; c & e, underwater photographs of different colonies; f, underwater photograph of polyps.