AndiV
Info
Studer, 1901
I've be very happy to send you photos of the Hawaiiian rice coral Montipora dilatata Studer 1903. Please note that I consider other species named by Veron as M. turgescens in Hawaiii to also be M. dilatata.
The type locality for M. turgescens named and described by Bernard was collected at the Great Barrier Reef. Given that the GBR is 8,000 km from Hawaiii, there is virtually no chance for the species same as named M. turgescens reported in Hawaiii to be the same as that at the GBR. As a result, I consider all corals called M. dilatata or M. turgescens collected in Hawaiii to all be Montipora dilatata Studer 1903.
Genetic analysis for M. turgescens should be based on specimens collected at its type locality (Great Barrier Reef) and not just from Hawaiii.
I have attached photos of the species alive and underwater at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiii (OAH), Palmyra Atoll, Line Islands (PAL, and other photos of the species photographed at four of the Northwestern Hawaiiian Islands: Pearl and Hermes Atoll (P&H), Lisianski Island (LIS), Kure Atoll (KUR), and Midway Atoll MID).
Sincerely, James E. Maragos, Ph.D., [ret.]
Colonies are encrusting to submassive and up to 0.3 metres across, with irregular branch-like upgrowths up to 100 millimetres thick which become flattened near their ends. Coenosteum papillae are inconspicuous. Corallite walls are well defined.
Colour: Pale to dark brown.
Habitat: Subtidal environments.
Abundance: Rare.
Similar species: Montipora turtlensis
Taxonomic note: Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Vaughan (1907). Additional identification guide: Maragos (1977).
I've be very happy to send you photos of the Hawaiiian rice coral Montipora dilatata Studer 1903. Please note that I consider other species named by Veron as M. turgescens in Hawaiii to also be M. dilatata.
The type locality for M. turgescens named and described by Bernard was collected at the Great Barrier Reef. Given that the GBR is 8,000 km from Hawaiii, there is virtually no chance for the species same as named M. turgescens reported in Hawaiii to be the same as that at the GBR. As a result, I consider all corals called M. dilatata or M. turgescens collected in Hawaiii to all be Montipora dilatata Studer 1903.
Genetic analysis for M. turgescens should be based on specimens collected at its type locality (Great Barrier Reef) and not just from Hawaiii.
I have attached photos of the species alive and underwater at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiii (OAH), Palmyra Atoll, Line Islands (PAL, and other photos of the species photographed at four of the Northwestern Hawaiiian Islands: Pearl and Hermes Atoll (P&H), Lisianski Island (LIS), Kure Atoll (KUR), and Midway Atoll MID).
Sincerely, James E. Maragos, Ph.D., [ret.]
Colonies are encrusting to submassive and up to 0.3 metres across, with irregular branch-like upgrowths up to 100 millimetres thick which become flattened near their ends. Coenosteum papillae are inconspicuous. Corallite walls are well defined.
Colour: Pale to dark brown.
Habitat: Subtidal environments.
Abundance: Rare.
Similar species: Montipora turtlensis
Taxonomic note: Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Vaughan (1907). Additional identification guide: Maragos (1977).
