Acropora pharaonis (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860)

(Fig. 73)

Madrepora pharaonis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860: 143.

Madrepora ehrenbergi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860: 143.

Madrepora pustulosa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860: 144.

Madrepora arabica Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860: 145.

Madrepora microcyathus Klunzinger, 1879: 22, pl. 3 fig. 3, pl. 4 fig. 19, pl. 9 fig. 17.

Madrepora spinulosa Klunzinger, 1879: 23, pl. 2 fig. 8, pl. 4 fig. 11, pl. 9 fig. 18.

Madrepora scandens Klunzinger, 1879: 26, pl. 2 fig. 6, pl. 3 fig. 2, pl. 4 fig. 3.

Madrepora subtilis Klunzinger, 1879: 28, pl. 2 fig. 2, pl. 4 fig. 4, pl. 9 fig. 22.

Type locality. Saudi Arabia, Red Sea (neotype MTQ).

MTQ Holdings. NEOTYPE G54717; Red Sea: G54855,

G57772, G57781, G57793 Egypt; G54724–25 Sudan;

G41155, G54714–16, G54718–23, G55188–89, G55237–43,

G55265–68, G62980 Saudi Arabia; G54726, G54827

Yemen.

Species group: muricata.

Description. Colony outline: determinate, predominantly table. Branches: tertiary branching order present; length:>100 mm; diameter: 10.0–19.9 mm, axial-dominated, tapering; radial crowding: not touching; axial/radial ratio:>1:10. Axial corallites: two synapticular rings; porous; outer diameter 1.5–2.6 mm; inner diameter 0.6–1.5 mm; primary septa to ¼ R. Radial corallites: medium; two synapticular rings; two sizes; inner wall not developed; shape: nariform; openings: oval-rounded; primary septa absent. Coenosteum: different on and between radials: between radials: reticulate, on radials: costate; spinule shape: blunt irregular.

Further literature. Sheppard & Sheppard (1991), Wallace (1999), Veron (2000), Pillay et al. (2002).