402 



COELENTERATA ANTHOZOA 



Cyclocnemaria. The two genera are widely distributed on the 

 coral reefs of the old world, and in some localities are very 

 abundant. Neither genus is found in the West Indies. They 

 are both of recent origin, but Pocillopora occurs in the Miocene. 

 It is a remarkable feature of the family that both genera may 

 be attacked by the gall-forming crab JIapalocarcinus. From 

 some reefs nearly all the Pocilloporidae show crab-galls on a 

 large number of their branches, whereas other Madreporaria are 

 free from them. 



■ CO 



-- Tlh. 



Fig. 175. — A portion of a colony of Pocillopora from 

 the Maldive Archipelago. 



Fig. 176. — A single calyx of 

 Pocillopora septata, showing 

 Oo, the columella ; S, S, the 

 septa ; Th, the theca wall. 

 (After Gardiner.) 



Pocillopora is a coral that forms encrusting masses, rising 

 into lobes or branches of considerable size, terminating in blunt 

 apices. Seriatopora is much more slender and ramified, the 

 branches terminating in sharp points. 



Sect. 2. Fungacba. — This section of Cyclocnemaria con- 

 tains a number of solitary and colonial corals of very varied 

 form united in the possession of a number of cross-bars called 

 " synapticula " connecting the septa, and thereby giving strength 

 to the calyx apart from any increase in the thickness of the calyx- 

 wall. The family Fungiidae shows many peculiarities which 

 separate it very distinctly from both the Cyclocnemaria and 

 the Aporosa. The Eupsammiidae, however, approach the Cyclo- 



