Scolymia lacera ( Pallas, 1766 )

Neves, Elizabeth, Johnsson, Rodrigo, Sampaio, Claudio & Pichon, Michel, 2006, The occurrence of Scolymia cubensis in Brazil: revising the problem of the Caribbean solitary mussids, Zootaxa 1366, pp. 45-54 : 48

1. Scolymia lacera ( Pallas, 1766)

Material examined: USNM 53149 (Gulf of Mexico, Florida, USA).

Diagnosis: Wells (1964): 381–382, pl. XXII, figs. 5, 6

Distribution: Curaçao, Bonaire, Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, South Florida.

In: Wells (1964,1971), Lang (1971), Zlatarski and Estalella (1982)

Holotype: lost (no number)

Description: Solitary attached corallum varying from concave, slightly flabelloid to discoidal forms, rounded; thick primary septa, wide triangular-shaped dentition (septal teeth numerous, regularly distributed); diameter in adult individuals around 10–12 cm (maximum of about 15 cm); parathecal walls; costae coarsely spined; septa lateral spines are low and concentrated along midline of the dentations, spongy columella usually elliptical.

Remarks: According to Lang (1971) ‘fleshy Scolymia ’ ( S. lacera ) shows highly agressive interactions with ‘smooth Scolymia ’ ( S. cubensis ), also attacking other neighboring corals by extruding the mesenterial filaments. Scolymia lacera has been reported in deeper zones being eventually abundant in depths of 30 to 60 m on Jamaican reefs (known bathymetric range: 25 to 140 m). Largest solitary monostomodeal coral in the West Indies. Dentition more regular than that of S. cubensis and S. wellsi .