Acropora variolosa (Klunzinger, 1879)

Wallace, Carden C., Done, Barbara J. & Muir, Paul R., 2012, Revision and catalogue of worldwide staghorn corals Acropora and Isopora (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in the Museum of Tropical Queensland, Memoirs of the Queensland Museu Nature 57, pp. 1-258 : 228

Acropora variolosa (Klunzinger, 1879)

( Fig. 112 )

Madrepora variolosa Klunzinger, 1879: 8 , pl. 1 fig. 6, pl. 4 fig. 6, pl. 9 fig. 3.

Madrepora obtusata Klunzinger, 1879: 7 , pl. 1 fig. 5, pl. 8 fig. 18a–b, pl. 9 fig. 2.

Madrepora klunzingeri Quelch, 1886: 158.

Acropora rufus Veron, 2000 , vol. 1: 269; 2002: 46–48, figs 82–87.

Type locality. Koseir, Red Sea (holotype MNB).

MTQ Holdings. Red Sea: G55787 HOLOTYPE of A. rufus , G57766, G57779, G57791–92 Egypt; G54681, G54683, G54859, G54862, G55184–85, G55235–36, G58878–79 Saudi Arabia; G53550 Sudan; G62964–65, G62973 Yemen; Maldives: G59917, G60274.

Species group: rudis.

Description. Colony outline: indeterminate, predominantly arborescent. Branches: tertiary branching order absent; length: 5 0–100 mm; diameter:>19.9 mm, axial-dominated, tapering; radial crowding: some touching; axial/radial ratio:>1:10. Axial corallites: greater than three synapticular rings; not porous; outer diameter 2.2–3.8 mm; inner diameter 0.7–1.2 mm; primary septa to 2/3 R. Radial corallites: large; greater than three synapticular rings; one size or graded; inner wall developed; shape: rounded tubular; openings: oval-rounded; primary septa to 2/3 R. Coenosteum: same on and between radials: dense spinules; spinule shape: elaborate. Taxonomic note. Acropora rufus is placed in synonymy because the holotype (G55787) was compared with specimens G54683, G55185 and G58879 from the above holdings and its characters found to fall within the range of variation within the series (which was previously compared with the holotype in MNB).

Further literature. Wallace (1999), Pillay et al. (2002).

Figures

FIG. 112. Acropora variolosa, G59917, Maldives, 2006 (photo: P. Muir). Map of documented distribution: blue squares = MTQ specimens; pink squares = literature records; orange diamonds = type localities (where given), including primary synonyms.