Tubastraea

Lesson, 1829, p. 93

Type Species

T. coccinea Lesson, 1829, p.93, no fig.; Monotypy

Type Specimen: Holotype; MNHN ; Lost; Dry Preserved

Type Locality: Bora Bora, Society Islands

According to Wells (1936b, p.132) the holotype is deposited at MNHN, but could not be found in 1999. Type species well described by Cairns (1991).

Classification

• Family: Dendrophylliidae Gray, 1847

Synonyms

• Agatheliopsis Loeser, 2014, p. 308
• Astropsammia Verrill, 1869, p. 392
• Coenopsammia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848, p. 106
• Pachysammia Verrill, 1866, p. 30

Diagnosis

Calices arranged in plocoid manner, corallites originating from a thick basal coenosteum; costae granular, epitheca absent; septa normally arranged; fossa deep, containing a spongy to trabecular columella; tissue often brightly colored; azooxanthellate.

Comparisons

Similar to Enallopsammia, but plocoid and having some endotheca.

Remarks

This genus and family were monographed by Cairns (2001), which included a phylogenetic analysis based on morphology. Eight species, 3 of which are known as fossils. Often incorrectly written as Tubastrea.

This page has been in preparation since 18-Jul-2008 22:11

This version was contributed by Stephen D. Cairns on 31-Oct-2008 14:51.

Page authors are: Stephen D. Cairns. Please contact the editor if you would like to contribute to the diagnosis of this taxon.

The editor is: Stephen D. Cairns