Tubastrea sibogae ( van der Horst, 1922 )

Lam, Katherine, Morton, Brian & Hodgson, Paul, 2008, Ahermatypic corals (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae, Oculinidae and Rhizangiidae) recorded from submarine caves in Hong Kong, Journal of Natural History 42 (9 - 12), pp. 729-747 : 738-739

Tubastrea sibogae ( van der Horst, 1922)

( Figure 2K–L )

Dendrophyllia sibogae van der Horst, 1922:56–57 , Plate VIII, Figs 19–20

Tubastrea sibogae Ogawa & Takahashi, 1993:99 , Plate 1, Figs 9–10, Plate 3, Figs 1 – 14, Plate 6, Figs 1–4

Description

Dendroid (bushy), colonial corallum. Main branch is not obvious. Extra-tentacular budding occurs near the base of old corallites. Colony size ranges from 15 mm to 40 mm in length and width and 15–30 mm in height. Corallite circular to slightly oval with a diameter ranging from 9.6–11.2 mm. Septal order is hexameral and in four cycles. Septal size, in a descending order, is S 1.S 2.S 45 S 3. Columella is deep, thin and spongy. Living colony is dark green.

Type locality

Between Nusa Besi and the N.E. point of Timor, depth 27–54 m; Haingsisi, Samau- Island, depth up to 36 m.

Distribution

Indonesia, Japan ( Ogawa and Takahashi 1993) and Conic Island marine cave, Hong Kong (this study).

Figures

Figure 1. Balanophyllia sp. and Dendrophyllia sp. A–B, calicular (longer diameter56.5 mm) and side view of four solitary corallites of B. eguchii (maximum height59.02 mm); C–D, calicular (longer diameter514.9 mm) and top view of a B. ponderosa colony (height531.3 mm); E–G, calicular (longer diameter57.8 mm) and side views of two colonies of D. arbuscula (colony size of F and G535.1 mm and 40.1 mm, respectively); H–I, top and side views of a small D. arbuscula colony (height518.2); J–L, calicular (longer diameter511.7 mm) and top views of two colonies of D. ehrenbergiana (height of K and L513 mm and 19.8 mm, respectively); M–N, calicular (longer diameter513.4 mm) and side view of a colony of D. coccinea (height527 mm); O–P, calicular (longer diameter58 mm) and side view of colony of D. compressa (height533.1 mm); Q–R, calicular (longer diameter59.9 mm) and four solitary corallites of D. gracilis (maximum height521.2 mm).

Figure 2. Tubastrea sp. A–B, calicular (longer diameter58.2 mm) and top view of a colony of T. coccinea (length×width598.7 mm×34.6 mm); C–D, calicular (longer diameter56.37 mm) and top view of a colony of T. faulkneri (length×width568.9 mm×21.56 mm); E–J, calicular and side views of colonies of T. diaphana (height of F533 mm, height of G and H518.5 mm, longer calicular diameter and height of I and J59.9 and 21.5 mm, respectively); K–L, calicular (longer diameter59.5 mm) and top view of a colony of T. sibogae (height531.3 mm); M–O, calicular (longer diameter58.3 mm), top and side view of a colony of T. turbinata (height522.7 mm).