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The Extant Scleractinian Corals of New Zealand

Balanophyllia alta Tenison-Woods, 1880. Pl. VIII, figs. 1-3. Map symbol ⊁

Balanophyllia alta Tenison-Woods, 1880. Pl. VIII, figs. 1-3. Map symbol ⊁

1958. Balanophyllia alta Tenison-Woods. Squires, p. 70, Pl. 15, fig. 10-18, 21 (Synonymy.)

This is a solitary coral with a tall conical to cylindrical corallum up to 100 mm or more in length. There is a tendency for the basal third to be outwardly curved (Pl. VIII, fig. 1) from its point of attachment, which may be fixed either by a peduncle or a broad base. The calice is circular to oval, the walls thick and irregularly porous. The costae are irregularly arranged not always opposite the septa, but are readily recognisable and covered by scattered sharp granules. There are more than 80 septa, the primary and secondary septa extending to the columella, the quaternary and quinary uniting with the tertiaries. A well developed parietal columella is present which is spongy in appearance.

Approximately halfway up the largest corallum in the present series (Pl. VIII, fig. 1) there can be seen broken bases of nine smaller corallites. The characteristic granules of the costae have been worn down and show clearly the vermiculiform markings described by Tenison-Woods. Half the calice is broken away and it is not possible to give an accurate count of the septa in the present specimen. Balanophyllia alta is also fairly well known as a Tertiary fossil in New Zealand (Squires, 1958.)

Occurrence: New Zealand waters. No depth. Two young specimens taken alive, one large dead specimen (Dominion Museum, Coral Collection.) Cook Strait. No depth. One dead worn specimen (Zoology Department, Victoria University.)

Distribution: New Zealand.