Comparative morphology on some sclerectanian corals in Arabian Gulf and the Egyptian Coast of the Red Sea

Sadek, Mohammed A.; Madkour, Fedekar F.; Ahmed, Mohammed I.; Hanafy, Mahmoud H.

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2018.8765

Comparative morphology on some sclerectanian corals in Arabian Gulf and the Egyptian Coast of the Red Sea

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2018.8765

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the morphological variations occur in the same species of some sclerectinian corals inhabiting Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to establish basic understand the lineage between scleractinian coral species in such geographic region. 126 specimens of the most abundant sclerectinian corals inhabiting the Egyptian coasts along Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba and Arabian Gulf were collected. Mico- and macro-morphological identification was used to identify and investigate coral species at selected sites. Eight species were recorded (Acropora pharaonis, Acropora humilis, Acropora digitefra, Pocillopora verrucosa, Stylophora pistillata, Porites harrisoni, Platygyra daedalea, Favia pallida) belong to six genera. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been made for the corallite and branch measurement with sites. The preset study revealed that corallite diameter are highly influenced by geographic distribution in all species except corallite of Stylophora pistillata. Branch diameter are highly influenced (p<0. 05) by geographic distribution only in Acropora humilis and Acropora digitefera, while Acropora pharaonis, Pocilliopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata did not vary among sites. Comparing specimens collected from Arabian Gulf with those from Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, corallite and branch measurements of Stylophora pistillata, Platygyra deadalea were very near and morphological characters were identical. Corallite and branch measurements of Favia pallida were very close at all locations. Only in Red Sea specimens (Fanous), costa and paliform was absent.

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