NMITA: Neogene Marine Biota of Tropical America

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Montastraea

Montastraea Link, 1807

Morphologic Description: Plocoid; extramural budding; small septal teeth; strong costae; trabecular columella; septothecal wall structure.

I. Montastraea with approx. 24 septa.

Diagnostic Morphologic Characters of Species

Species	Colony Shape	Corallite Diameter	Total number of septa per corallite	Corallite Spacing	Other
M. annularis	wide columns	2.1-2.7 mm	24	1-1.2 mm	raised septa and theca
M. faveolata	skirted mounds and plates	2.1-2.7 mm	24	0.6-0.9 mm	poorly developed costae
M. franksi	irregular bumpy mounds and plates	2.5-3.5 mm	24-26	1-1.2 mm	well developed costae
M. brevis	small discoidal colonies	3.3-4 mm	26-40	2.3-3.8 mm	well developed epitheca
M. imperatoris	rounded mounds	2.5-3.5 mm	18-24	< 2 mm	prominent primary septa
M. limbata-1	thin columns	3.5-5 mm	24	4-6 mm
M. limbata-2	irregular mounds and plates	2.3-3.5 mm	24	3-5 mm
M. limbata-3	thin columns	2-2.5 mm	24	4-6 mm
M. trinitatis	rounded mounds	2.5-4 mm	24-48	3-5 mm	elliptical corallites
M. sp. A	small rounded colonies	<< 2.2 mm	20-22	< 1.5 mm
M. sp. B	thin columns	2-2.5 mm	24	1-1.2 mm	well-developed costae




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Last updated on February 15, 1997-afb.

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