Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 8, 2026

Merulina

Merulina is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. Members of this genus are native to the Indo-Pacific region and their ranges extend from the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean as far as Japan and the southern central Pacific Ocean. Merulina ampliata is the type species.

Last revised
Jul 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
185 w
Citations
5
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Merulina
Merulina ampliata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Anthozoa
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Merulinidae
Genus: Merulina
Ehrenberg, 1834 1
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Clavarina Verrill, 1864
  • Paraclavarina Veron, 1985

Merulina is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. Members of this genus are native to the Indo-Pacific region and their ranges extend from the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean as far as Japan and the southern central Pacific Ocean.2 Merulina ampliata is the type species.1

Characteristics

Colonies can be laminar, foliose, columnar or arborescent, and can adopt all of these forms in a single colony. On laminar plates, valleys radiate from the centre, becoming contorted on branching structures.2

Species

The following species are currently recognized by the World Register of Marine Species :1

  • Merulina ampliata (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
  • †Merulina isseli (Prever, 1922)
  • Merulina rotunda Nemenzo, 1959
  • Merulina scabricula Dana, 1846
  • Merulina scheeri Head, 1983
  • Merulina triangularis (Veron & Pichon, 1980)
References

References

  1. Hoeksema, Bert (2018). "Merulina Ehrenberg, 1834". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  2. Sprung, Julian (1999). Corals: A quick reference guide. Ricordea Publishing. p. 117. ISBN 1-883693-09-8.