| Colony
shape: The variation
in colony form seen in this genus is greater than in any other
soft coral genus. Colonies may be low and encrusting with small
knobs or ridges, tall and abundantly lobed, branched, flat and
leaf-like or dish-like, and almost anything in between. In some
species, a single, mature colony can cover tens of square
meters, while other species are only several centimeters across.
In turbid near-shore water, asexual reproduction by colony
fission appears common, and aggregations consisting of hundreds
of colonies can be found. Tightly contracted colonies are
generally tough and hard, due to a dense mass of large, spindle shaped
sclerites in the colony interior (occasionally
absent from the lobes). In some species, sclerites are fused
together into a strong, rock-like substance called spiculite.
Whole reef structures may be made from spiculite, and individual
colonies of unknown age have been found sitting upon tall
spiculite columns (Photo 2).
Polyps:
Monomorphic, retractile, small, with
short bodies. Tentacles are short, and arranged in a disk shaped
arrangement when expanded.
Sclerites: The
surface of the polyp-bearing part of a colony characteristically
contains well-formed clubs, sometimes long and thin, along with
some small, narrow spindles or rods. There are only a few
species in which there are no sclerites in this region. The
surface of the stalk always contains clubs, and they are
generally more robust versions of those found on the lobes. The
interior of the lobes nearly always contains very large,
complexly warted spindles (rarely ovals). There are only a few
species where there are no sclerites in this region. The
interior of the stalk always
|
contains large complexly warted spindles (or, rarely, ovals)
easily seen with the naked eye. The spindles in the interior
regions of a colony are occasionally branched, sometimes to a
remarkable degree. Sclerites are always colourless.
Colour: Brown,
yellow, green, or cream. Polyps are usually the same colour as
the general colony, but may be white or yellow. Zooxanthellate.
Habitat and
abundance: Very abundant and widely distributed
over most habitat types, from shallow waters down to at least 40
m, from very turbid to clean-water environments, and from very
warm shallow bays into higher, cooler latitudes where reef
growth ceases. Highly persistent species may dominate
wave-protected coastal areas. Some species are tolerant of low
light (steep walls, deep areas); others live on .reef flats and
tolerate intense illumination, storm waves, and exposure to air
during extremely low tides.
Zoogeographic
distribution:
Widespread, from Africa and the Red
Sea in the west to Hawaii in the east.
Similar
Indo-Pacific genera: Some colonies may resemble
Cladiella, Lemnalia or Klyxum. Confusion with species of Loboph)4um
is possible if no dimorphic polyps are visible (eg. on
video), although the lobes in that genus are more regular in
shape. Darnpia has identical sclerites to Sinularia (see
the remarks under that genus).
Remarks: In
most species, the interior sclerites of Sinularia are over 2 mm
long, and in a torn section they are easily seen with the naked eye. The
outer surface of the lower base of live colonies feels rough due to
these sclerites, distinguishing it from Cladiella and Kl)lxum. |
