Merulina

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]

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

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