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 | |
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| Merulina ampliata | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Merulinidae |
| Genus: | Merulina Ehrenberg, 1834 [1] |
| Species | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Characteristics
editColonies 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
editThe 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
edit- ^ a b c Hoeksema, Bert (2018). "Merulina Ehrenberg, 1834". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- ^ a b Sprung, Julian (1999). Corals: A quick reference guide. Ricordea Publishing. p. 117. ISBN 1-883693-09-8.
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