WoRMS taxon details
Blastomussa merleti (Wells, 1961)
207385 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:207385)
accepted
Species
Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961 · unaccepted > superseded combination (basionym)
Bantamia merletti Wells, 1961 · unaccepted > superseded combination (misspelling)
Blastomussa (Blastomussa) merleti (Wells, 1961) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Blastomussa merletti (Wells, 1961) · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
Cladocora kabiraensis Eguchi, 1975 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
marine, fresh, terrestrial
(of Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961) Wells JW. (1961). Notes on Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals. Part 3, A new reef coral from New Caledonia. <em>Pacific Science.</em> 15: 189-191. [details]
Holotype (of Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961) USNM...
Holotype (of Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961) USNM 45390,, geounit New Caledonian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Description This is the smallest mussid, but has the typical fleshy polyps of the family. Colonies rarely exceed a diameter of 25-30...
Description This is the smallest mussid, but has the typical fleshy polyps of the family. Colonies rarely exceed a diameter of 25-30 cm. Calices are 4-9 mm diameter, and septa contain few strong but blunt spines, commonly one on each near the wall. Colonies are cerioid, phaceloid, or with both conditions occurring in the same colony. When the cerioid growth form exists, colonies are low and encrusting. Even here, there may be little or no organic tissue connecting adjacent polyps, and phaceloid corallites usually occur near the perimeter of the colony. Wholly phaceloid growth forms have a greater thickness, with individual corallites reaching 6 cm tall, of which the top 15 mm is enveloped by tissue (see the 3 b/w photos for variation). This species favours small crevices or steep parts of reef slopes. It can be found equally on exposed reef slopes and slightly sedimented areas, and may be recorded down to at least 50 m depth in fairly dark and cryptic conditions as well as in moderately lit areas. It is very rarely encountered in shallow or exposed conditions. The cerioid condition becomes more common in the western Indian Ocean region. (Sheppard, 1998 <308>).
Corallites are less than 7 mm in diameter. Septa are in three cycles, of which only the first two reach the columella. Colour: dark red or greenish-brown (two colour morphs). Abundance: uncommon. (Veron, 1986 <57>)
Always distinctive. Corallites in the colony are widely spaced providing room for the fleshy mantles of the polyp to expand. Colour: mantles red or green with a bright green centre, making the red variety a spectacular find underwater. Habitat: diverse reef areas, but never common. (Richmond, 1997) [details]
Corallites are less than 7 mm in diameter. Septa are in three cycles, of which only the first two reach the columella. Colour: dark red or greenish-brown (two colour morphs). Abundance: uncommon. (Veron, 1986 <57>)
Always distinctive. Corallites in the colony are widely spaced providing room for the fleshy mantles of the polyp to expand. Colour: mantles red or green with a bright green centre, making the red variety a spectacular find underwater. Habitat: diverse reef areas, but never common. (Richmond, 1997) [details]
Hoeksema, B. W.; Cairns, S. (2024). World List of Scleractinia. Blastomussa merleti (Wells, 1961). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207385 on 2024-11-06
Date
action
by
The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
original description
(of Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961) Wells JW. (1961). Notes on Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals. Part 3, A new reef coral from New Caledonia. <em>Pacific Science.</em> 15: 189-191. [details]
original description (of Cladocora kabiraensis Eguchi, 1975) Eguchi M. (1975). Notes on coral genera of the Yaeyoma Island group, with description of a new species, Cladocora kabiraensis n. sp. <em>Proceedings of the Japanese Society for Systematic Zoology.</em> 11: 1-4. [details]
context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details]
basis of record Veron JEN. (1986). Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. <em>Angus & Robertson Publishers.</em> [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., B.W. Hoeksema & J. van der Land. (1999). Appendix: List of extant stony corals. <em>Atoll Research Bulletin.</em> 459: 13-46.
page(s): 35 [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., B.W. Hoeksema & J. van der Land. (2007). as a contribution to UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
[request]
additional source Veron JEN, Pichon M. (1980). Scleractinia of Eastern Australia – Part III. Family Agariciidae, Siderastreidae, Fungiidae, Oculinidae, Merulinidae, Mussidae, Pectinidae, Caryophyllidae, Dendrophylliidae. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science Monograph Series.</em> 4: 1-459. [details]
additional source Veron JEN. (2000). Corals of the World. Vol. 1–3. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science and CRR, Queensland, Australia.</em> [details]
additional source Veron JEN. (2002). New species described in Corals of the World. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science Monograph Series.</em> 11: 1-209.
page(s): 169, 170 [details]
additional source Hodgson G, Ross MA. (1982). Unreported scleractinian corals from the Philippines. <em>Proceedings of the Fourth International Coral Reef Symposium, Manila, 1981.</em> 2: 171-175.
page(s): 171 [details]
additional source Wijsman-Best M (1973) A new species of the Pacific coral genus Blastomussa from New Caledonia. Pacific Science 27: 154-155. [details]
additional source Chevalier JP. (1975). Les Scléractiniaires de la Mélanésie Française (Nouvelle-Caledonie, Iles Chesterfield, Iles Loyauté, Nouvelles Hébrides). II. Expedition Française sur les Récifs Coralliens Nouv.-Calédonie. 7: 1-407, pls. 1-42. Paris. [details]
additional source Nemenzo F, Hodgson G (1983) Philippine scleractinian corals – additional records. Philippine Journal of Science 112: 29-55.
page(s): 30, 40, 41, 61 [details]
additional source Pichon, M.; Benzoni, F. (2007). Taxonomic re-appraisal of zooxanthellate Scleractinian Corals in the Maldive Archipelago. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 1441: 21–33.
page(s): 32 [details]
additional source Benzoni F, Arrigoni R, Waheed Z, Stefani F, Hoeksema BW (2014) Phylogenetic relationships and revision of the genus Blastomussa (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) with description of a new species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62: 358-378. [details]
additional source Veron JEN, Marsh LM. (1988). Hermatypic corals of Western Australia : records and annotated species list. <em>Records Western Australian Museum Supplement.</em> 29: 1-136., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.60555
page(s): 27, 90 [details]
additional source Veron, J. E. N. (2000). Corals of the World, Volume III: Families Mussidae, Faviidae, Trachyphylliidae, Poritidae. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Townsville., volume 3, pp. 490.
page(s): 4-5 [details]
additional source Veron, J. E. N.; Pichon, M. (1979). Scleractinia of Eastern Australia, part III: Families Agariciidae, Siderastreidae, Fungiidae, Oculinidae, Merulinidae, Mussidae, Pectiniidae, Caryophylliidae, Dendrophylliidae. Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra., volume 4, pp. 422.
page(s): 7, 233, 234-236 [details]
additional source Wells, J. W. (1968). Notes on Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals, Parts 5 and 6. Pacific Science, 22, 2
page(s): 275, Figs. 4, 5, 276 [details]
additional source Wallace, C. C.; Fellegara, I.; Muir, P. R.; Harrison, P. L. (2009). The scleractinian corals of Moreton Bay, eastern Australia: high latitude, marginal assemblages with increasing species richness. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 54, 2
page(s): 94 [details]
original description (of Cladocora kabiraensis Eguchi, 1975) Eguchi M. (1975). Notes on coral genera of the Yaeyoma Island group, with description of a new species, Cladocora kabiraensis n. sp. <em>Proceedings of the Japanese Society for Systematic Zoology.</em> 11: 1-4. [details]
context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details]
basis of record Veron JEN. (1986). Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. <em>Angus & Robertson Publishers.</em> [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., B.W. Hoeksema & J. van der Land. (1999). Appendix: List of extant stony corals. <em>Atoll Research Bulletin.</em> 459: 13-46.
page(s): 35 [details]
additional source Cairns, S.D., B.W. Hoeksema & J. van der Land. (2007). as a contribution to UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms. (look up in IMIS) [details]
additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors
[request]additional source Veron JEN, Pichon M. (1980). Scleractinia of Eastern Australia – Part III. Family Agariciidae, Siderastreidae, Fungiidae, Oculinidae, Merulinidae, Mussidae, Pectinidae, Caryophyllidae, Dendrophylliidae. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science Monograph Series.</em> 4: 1-459. [details]
additional source Veron JEN. (2000). Corals of the World. Vol. 1–3. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science and CRR, Queensland, Australia.</em> [details]
additional source Veron JEN. (2002). New species described in Corals of the World. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science Monograph Series.</em> 11: 1-209.
page(s): 169, 170 [details]
additional source Hodgson G, Ross MA. (1982). Unreported scleractinian corals from the Philippines. <em>Proceedings of the Fourth International Coral Reef Symposium, Manila, 1981.</em> 2: 171-175.
page(s): 171 [details]
additional source Wijsman-Best M (1973) A new species of the Pacific coral genus Blastomussa from New Caledonia. Pacific Science 27: 154-155. [details]
additional source Chevalier JP. (1975). Les Scléractiniaires de la Mélanésie Française (Nouvelle-Caledonie, Iles Chesterfield, Iles Loyauté, Nouvelles Hébrides). II. Expedition Française sur les Récifs Coralliens Nouv.-Calédonie. 7: 1-407, pls. 1-42. Paris. [details]
additional source Nemenzo F, Hodgson G (1983) Philippine scleractinian corals – additional records. Philippine Journal of Science 112: 29-55.
page(s): 30, 40, 41, 61 [details]
additional source Pichon, M.; Benzoni, F. (2007). Taxonomic re-appraisal of zooxanthellate Scleractinian Corals in the Maldive Archipelago. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 1441: 21–33.
page(s): 32 [details]
additional source Benzoni F, Arrigoni R, Waheed Z, Stefani F, Hoeksema BW (2014) Phylogenetic relationships and revision of the genus Blastomussa (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) with description of a new species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62: 358-378. [details]
additional source Veron JEN, Marsh LM. (1988). Hermatypic corals of Western Australia : records and annotated species list. <em>Records Western Australian Museum Supplement.</em> 29: 1-136., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.60555
page(s): 27, 90 [details]
additional source Veron, J. E. N. (2000). Corals of the World, Volume III: Families Mussidae, Faviidae, Trachyphylliidae, Poritidae. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Townsville., volume 3, pp. 490.
page(s): 4-5 [details]
additional source Veron, J. E. N.; Pichon, M. (1979). Scleractinia of Eastern Australia, part III: Families Agariciidae, Siderastreidae, Fungiidae, Oculinidae, Merulinidae, Mussidae, Pectiniidae, Caryophylliidae, Dendrophylliidae. Australian Government Publishing Service. Canberra., volume 4, pp. 422.
page(s): 7, 233, 234-236 [details]
additional source Wells, J. W. (1968). Notes on Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals, Parts 5 and 6. Pacific Science, 22, 2
page(s): 275, Figs. 4, 5, 276 [details]
additional source Wallace, C. C.; Fellegara, I.; Muir, P. R.; Harrison, P. L. (2009). The scleractinian corals of Moreton Bay, eastern Australia: high latitude, marginal assemblages with increasing species richness. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 54, 2
page(s): 94 [details]
Present Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
Holotype (of Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961) USNM 45390,, geounit New Caledonian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 121-88, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 254-85, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 416-84, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 417-84, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 418-84, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 454-77, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
From editor or global species database
Biology zooxanthellate [details]Unreviewed
Description This is the smallest mussid, but has the typical fleshy polyps of the family. Colonies rarely exceed a diameter of 25-30 cm. Calices are 4-9 mm diameter, and septa contain few strong but blunt spines, commonly one on each near the wall. Colonies are cerioid, phaceloid, or with both conditions occurring in the same colony. When the cerioid growth form exists, colonies are low and encrusting. Even here, there may be little or no organic tissue connecting adjacent polyps, and phaceloid corallites usually occur near the perimeter of the colony. Wholly phaceloid growth forms have a greater thickness, with individual corallites reaching 6 cm tall, of which the top 15 mm is enveloped by tissue (see the 3 b/w photos for variation). This species favours small crevices or steep parts of reef slopes. It can be found equally on exposed reef slopes and slightly sedimented areas, and may be recorded down to at least 50 m depth in fairly dark and cryptic conditions as well as in moderately lit areas. It is very rarely encountered in shallow or exposed conditions. The cerioid condition becomes more common in the western Indian Ocean region. (Sheppard, 1998 <308>).Corallites are less than 7 mm in diameter. Septa are in three cycles, of which only the first two reach the columella. Colour: dark red or greenish-brown (two colour morphs). Abundance: uncommon. (Veron, 1986 <57>)
Always distinctive. Corallites in the colony are widely spaced providing room for the fleshy mantles of the polyp to expand. Colour: mantles red or green with a bright green centre, making the red variety a spectacular find underwater. Habitat: diverse reef areas, but never common. (Richmond, 1997) [details]
Spelling Spelled B. merletti in Sheppard 1987 <63> and 1998 <308>. Type locality: New Caledonia (Veron, 1986). [details]
To Barcode of Life (9 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (10 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Blastomussa merleti)
To GenBank (15 nucleotides; 8 proteins)
To GenBank (15 nucleotides; 8 proteins) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To IUCN Red List (Least Concern)
To NHMUK collection (Blastomussa merleti (Wells, 1961); NHMUK:ecatalogue:2400078)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Bantamia merleti USNM 45390 view 1) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (3 records)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (Holotype USNM 45390) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To ITIS
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (10 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (6 publications) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Blastomussa merleti)
To GenBank (15 nucleotides; 8 proteins)
To GenBank (15 nucleotides; 8 proteins) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To IUCN Red List (Least Concern)
To NHMUK collection (Blastomussa merleti (Wells, 1961); NHMUK:ecatalogue:2400078)
To NMNH Extant Collection (Bantamia merleti USNM 45390 view 1) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (3 records)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (Holotype USNM 45390) (from synonym Bantamia merleti Wells, 1961)
To ITIS
