Merulina

Merulina
Merulina ampliata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Anthozoa
Order:Scleractinia
Family:Merulinidae
Genus:Merulina
Ehrenberg, 1834 [1]
Species
See text
Synonyms
  • Clavarina Verrill, 1864
  • Paraclavarina Veron, 1985

Merulina is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. Members of this genus are native to the Indo-Pacific region and their ranges extend from the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean as far as Japan and the southern central Pacific Ocean.[2] Merulina ampliata is the type species.[1]

Characteristics

Colonies can be laminar, foliose, columnar or arborescent, and can adopt all of these forms in a single colony. On laminar plates, valleys radiate from the centre, becoming contorted on branching structures.[2]

Species

The following species are currently recognized by the World Register of Marine Species :[1]

  • Merulina ampliata (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
  • †Merulina isseli (Prever, 1922)
  • Merulina rotunda Nemenzo, 1959
  • Merulina scabricula Dana, 1846
  • Merulina scheeri Head, 1983
  • Merulina triangularis (Veron & Pichon, 1980)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hoeksema, Bert (2018). "Merulina Ehrenberg, 1834". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  2. 1 2 Sprung, Julian (1999). Corals: A quick reference guide. Ricordea Publishing. p. 117. ISBN 1-883693-09-8.
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