Initial phase of autotomy in fragmenting Cycloseris corals at Semporna, eastern Sabah, Malaysia

• DOI: 10.1007/s00338-011-0807-6
• Publication Date: 2011-08-17T13:06:40Z
• Authors: B. W. Hoeksema; Z. Waheed
• Keywords: Autotomy

Initial phase of autotomy in fragmenting Cycloseris corals at Semporna, eastern Sabah, MalaysiaFree-living mushroom (Scleractinia: Fungiidae), classified by some authors as Diaseris, are known for their capacity to reproduce asexually fragmentation.They split themselves wedge-shaped segments radial skeleton dissolution.The regenerate, again, and continue this process repeatedly.It has been suggested that they bypass sexual reproduction because so-called Diaseris have not observed show a detachment scar (Yamashiro Nishihira 1998).Nevertheless, one study, gametogenesis was observed, but sexually derived recruits were found (Colley et al. 2002).During the Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition 2010 (SMEE2010), various species showed slits undersides appeared indicate self-inflicted dissolution described 1998): C. sinensis (Milne Edwards Haime, 1851) (Fig. 1a-d), costulata (Ortmann, 1889) 1e-f), distorta (Michelin, 1842), fragilis (Alcock, 1893), vaughani (Boschma, 1923) 1g-h).Some clear traces detachment, indicating origin produced 1d,f,h).These observations point out should be separate genus ''Diaseris morph'' could result asexual free-living individuals species.