Paragoniastrea: Brief Summary
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Paragoniastrea is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae.
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Diagnosis
provided by World Register of Marine Species
Colonial; mostly intracalicular budding, with some degree of extracalicular budding in monocentric species. Corallites monomorphic; discrete (1–3 centers) or uniserial; monticules absent. Walls generally fused, but may also occur as double walls. Coenosteum, if present, limited and costate. Calice width medium (4–15 mm), with medium relief (3–6 mm). Costosepta may be confluent. Septa in 3 cycles (24–36 septa). Free septa present but irregular. Septa spaced 6–11 septa per 5 mm. Costosepta generally unequal in relative thickness. Columellae trabecular and spongy (> 3 threads), < 1/4 of calice width, and continuous among adjacent corallites. Paliform (uniaxial) lobes well developed. Epitheca well developed. Endotheca low-moderate (tabular). Tooth base at mid-calice circular. Tooth tip at mid-calice irregular; tip orientation perpendicular to septum. Tooth height medium (0.3–0.6 mm) and tooth spacing medium (0.3–1 mm), with > 6 teeth per septum. Granules scattered on septal face; irregular in shape. Interarea palisade. Walls formed by dominant paratheca and partial septotheca; abortive septa absent. Thickening deposits fibrous. Costa centre clusters weak; 0.3–0.6 mm between clusters; medial lines weak. Septum centre clusters weak; generally 0.3–0.5 mm between clusters, but may be closer in some septa; medial lines weak. Transverse crosses absent. Columella centres clustered.
Status
provided by World Register of Marine Species
The name alludes to its superficial similarities with Goniastrea, particularly its well-developed paliform lobes, but is distinguished from the latter based on molecular and subcorallite characteristics.