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.

II. Montastraea with >>24 septa.

Species (7 total):

• M. canalis (Vaughan, 1919): CC species #124 (extinct).
• M. cavernosa - 1 (Linnaeus, 1767): CC species #125 (extant).
• M. cavernosa - 2 (Linnaeus, 1767): CC species #126 (extant).
• M. cavernosa - 3 (Linnaeus, 1767): CC species #127 (extant).
• M. cylindrica (Duncan, 1863): CC species #128 (extinct)
• M. endothecata (Duncan, 1863): CC species #129 (extinct).
• M. tampaensis (Vaughan, 1919): CC species #130 (extinct).




Diagnostic Morphologic Characters of Species

Species	Colony Shape	Corallite Diameter	Total number of septa per corallite	Corallite Spacing	Other
M. canalis	rounded mounds	4.5-5.5 mm	36-42	5.9-6.6 mm	equal costae
M. cavernosa - 1	rounded mounds	5.5-6.5 mm	36-42	7-9 mm	weak unequal costae
M. cavernosa - 2	rounded mounds	5.5-6.5 mm	38-48	5-7 mm	equal costae
M. cavernosa - 3	rounded mounds	6.5-7.5 mm	38-48	> 6-9 mm	unequal costae, exsert calices
M. cylindrica	rounded mounds or plates	4-5 mm	24-36	9-11 mm	thin unequal costae
M. endothecata	rounded mounds	7.2-9 mm	36-50	< 9 mm	thick unequal costae
M. tampaensis	columns or rounded mounds	4.5-5.5 mm	42-48	< 5 mm	weak costae, highly exsert calices




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Last updated on February 15, 1997-afb.

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