14. Meandrina braziliensis
| Meandrina braziliensis has hemispheric or elongated elliptic colonies. Two morphologic variations characterize this species. The first variation is free, living on a movable substrate, in shallow (2 to 4 m) waters or at depths of 30 to 60 m. The second variation is fixed to the reef substrate. The first form in deep waters has a greater larger axis to smaller axis ratio, and has more delicate septa than those in shallow waters. Specimens measuring 20 x 8 cm were collected from the bottom of the Todos os Santos bay. Measurements done on several examples of fixed | |
| | forms from Itaparica island and the Abrolhos
region, vary around 5 x 9 cm, 4 x 6 cm and 3 x 5
cm. The color of the live organism varies between
yellowish brown, in the shallow water colonies,
and dark red, in deep water colonies.
|
| Meandrina braziliensis is registered in shallow protected waters on the coast of Bahia and, in deep waters (30 to 60 m), on the coast, from Ceará to Cabo Frio in Rio de Janeiro. The distribution of this species suggests it is susceptible to agitated waters. |
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