Acropora gemmifera ( Brook, 1892 )

van der Meij, Sancia E. T. & Visser, Rémon R., 2011, The Acropora Humilis Group (Scleractinia) Of The Snellius Expedition (1929 - 30), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59 (1), pp. 9-17 : 11-13

Acropora gemmifera ( Brook, 1892)

( Fig. 2c–d )

Madrepora gemmifera – Brook, 1892 p. 457; 1893 p. 142 pl. 21.

Acropora gemmifera – Veron and Wallace, 1984: 170; Veron, 1986: 137; Veron, 2000: 324–325.

Acropora (Acropora) gemmifera – Wallace and Dai, 1997:292; Wallace and Wolstenholme, 1998: 212; Wallace, 1999: 120–121.

Material examined. – Indonesia, Tanimbar Isl., Wotap ( RMNH Coel.39583); Kera , near Timor ( RMNH Coel.39577–39578) Tanahjampea , N of Flores ( RMNH Coel.39580–39582); Bonetambung near Makassar ( RMNH Coel.39571–39574); Tukangbesi Isl. , Binongko ( RMNH Coel.39569–39570); Nenusa Isl. , Karatung ( RMNH Coel.39575–39576); Talaud Isl. , Beo , Karakelong ( RMNH Coel.39568, 39894); Talaud Isl. , Reimis , Karakelong ( RMNH Coel.39579); Papua, Biak , Sorido , W of Kampung, reef at ‘marine kazerne’ [marine barracks], Feb. 1955, coll. D. Brongersma ( RMNH Coel.39901) .

Short description. – Colony digitate to corymbose; branches tapering, 10–25 mm in diameter and up to 80 mm long; growth

determinate. Axial corallite outer diameter 2.0–4.5 mm; radial corallites in two sizes, often in longitudinal rows, immersed corallites present, tubular with round to dimidiate openings and thickened walls.

Biogeography. – The distribution is very similar to that of A. humilis , with a wide Indo-West Pacific range. The Snellius expedition collected specimens at eight sites. The coral collection also contains a specimen of A. gemmifera , collected by Dr Brongersma, from Sorido (Biak, Papua).

Figures

Fig. 2a-h. A. humilis: a, complete coral (RMNH Coel.39585), b, branch (RMNH Coel.39591); A. gemmifera: c, complete coral (RMNH Coel.39581), d, branch (RMNH Coel.39578); A. monticulosa: e, complete coral, f, close-up (both RMNH Coel.39599); A. samoensis: g, complete coral (RMNH Coel.39612), h, close-up (RMNH Coel.39622). Scale bars 2 cm (a-c, e, g-h), 1.5 cm for d, f.