Mussidae

Lobophyllia hemprichii

The Mussidae are a family of stony corals ( Scleractinia ). Most species have large polyps, whose skeletons are shared by large septa. They live in the Caribbean and the Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

Features

The Mussidae are solitary or form colonies. The skeleton is stable, Koralliten and the valleys between them are very large. The septa have large tooth-like or sheet-like structures. The Collumella called Kalksäule in the center of Koralliten and the partitions are well developed and thick. The polyps are large and fleshy. The family is closely related to the Pectiniidae from which it is to be distinguished by the more robust skeleton and the large Koralliten with large Septenzähnen. Morphologically, it also resembles the Meandrinidae. In some species ( Cynarina lacrimal, Scolymia australis), the polyp swells during the day with water and because of the transparency of the animals is the skeleton underneath visible. As photosynthesis ways of living with the coral zooxanthellae in symbiosis probably be improved. At night, eat the zooplankton Mussiden, Lobophyllia hemprichii is also capable of larger prey, how to catch floating shrimp or polychaetes.

Reproduction

All Mussiden are hermaphroditic, two types of encounter fully developed Planulalarven from. For five species, Acanthastrea echinata, Lobophyllia hemprichii, L.corymbosa, Symphyllia recta and S. radians, it has been demonstrated that they are participating in the Massenablaichen of corals in the Great Barrier Reef.

Genera

  • Acanthastrea Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848; Indo-Pacific.
  • Acanthophyllia Wells, 1937
  • Australomussa Veron, 1985; Indo-Pacific.
  • Blastomussa Wells, 1968; Indo-Pacific.
  • Indophyllia Gerth, 1921; Indo-Pacific.
  • Isophyllia Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1851; Caribbean.
  • Lobophyllia Blainville, 1830; Indo-Pacific.
  • Micromussa; Indo-Pacific.
  • Mussa Oken, 1815; Caribbean.
  • Mussismilia Ortmann, 1890; Caribbean.
  • Mycetophyllia Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848; Caribbean.
  • Scolymia Haime, 1852; Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.
  • Symphyllia Milne -Edwards & Haime, 1848; Indo-Pacific.

In addition, there were numerous other, now extinct genera.

Hexacorallia Genus Symphyllia (plant)
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