Kingdom Animalia Phylum Cnidaria Rank Species Subclass Hexacorallia | Family Merulinidae Genus Dipsastraea Order Scleractinia | |
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Similar Dipsastraea, Scleractinia, Favites abdita, Merulinidae, Psammocora | ||
Dipsastraea speciosa is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Description
Dipsastraea speciosa has rounded to very elongated corallites, with diameters of 10 to 15 mm. The corallites are separated by broad walls, with a distance of 3 to 6 mm between individual corallites. This species can be distinguished from the more common Dipsastraea pallida, with which it has often been confused, by its septa, which are fine, numerous, and regularly spaced. Both the septa and costae have fine, evenly spaced teeth.
Colonies of Dipsastraea speciosa are massive in their growth habit. The corallites are crowded together, subcircular, with calices up to 12 mm in diameter. Their coloration ranges, including pale grey, green or brown, usually with calices of contrasting color.