Montipora strigosa

Nemenzo, 1967

Corallum over 15 cm high, 15 x 13 cm across at the top; very crowded cluster of stems and branches coalescing complexly; some remain cylindrical or almost so (around 5 mm diameter), others become palmate as they grow higher either by expansion or by coalescence, then subdivide beyond. Coalescence made at various levels and directions. Terminal branchlets reach almost same level; surface rougher than lower subdivisions because of more prominent papillae; apices either obtuse or acute or lamellate-drawn out preparatory to division. Living portion down to 6-9 cm.

Calicles not easy to recognize with unaided eyes. Often snugly hidden among abundant papillae (mostly on their upper side), except those within depressions; flush with surface or slightly elevated; diameter 0.5-0.8 mm, very unequally distant from very close (inside depressions) to as much as 5 or more diameters apart; border continuous with intercalicinal reticulum. Calices associated with papillae face upward; those not so associated vertical with surface. On lower region, calicles distinctly smaller, more dispersed, some protruding.

Septa in 2 cycles; the second not always complete, very thin. Primaries prominent, slightly exsert, reaching almost center of calice thus leaving very narrow fossa; usually lamellate.

Intercalicinal reticulum visible on younger region where rounded meshes as wide as thread; older portion appears almost solid, reticulum obscured by abundant granulose spine (tips cut into tiny spinules or granules). Papillae abundant, of various shapes and sizes, ranging from low mammiform ones to tall ones, 2 mm high, standing singly or joined side by side with several others so as to produce longitudinal ridges giving angular form to most terminal branchlets. Towards nasal region papillae lower, broader; echinules uniformly low so surface appears smooth.

The type (C-233) is a portion of a large colony; C-1248 is several times bigger than the type specimen. This species is very brittle. Its very rough surface and the shapes of its terminal branchlets are its most outstanding characteristics.

Nemenzo, F. (1967). Systematic studies on Philippine shallow-water scleractinians. VI Suborder Astrocoeniina (Montipora and Acropora). (Part I - Text; Part II - Plates). Natural and Applied Science Bulletin, University of the Philippines. 20: 1-141, 143-223.

Unaccepted

Montipora stellata Bernard, 1897

WoRMS Editorial Board. (2024). World Register of Marine Species. Available from https://www.marinespecies.org at VLIZ. Accessed 2024-05-02. doi:10.14284/170

Plate VII, Fig 1: UP C-233:Pinamungajan, Cebu (Nemenzo) 1953-type

UP C-228:Puerta Galera, Oriental Mindoro (collector and date unrecorded)

UP C-205:Hundred Islands, Pangasinan (Nemenzo) 1954

UP C-1248:Malampaya Sound, Palawan (Banzon, Militante, Zarco) 1964

Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City