[Coral-List] Circular patches on Millepora

[BRUCE CARLSON]

Stephan,

The large circular scars are almost certainly feeding scars from the blenny, Exallias brevis.  This blenny is an obligate corallivore and it does feed on Millepora.  I have photos of similar scars on Millepora taken at Enewetak, with the Exallias sitting in the branches.

Bruce Carlson

On Mar 15, 2012, at 12:09 AM, Stephan Moldzio wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> Dear Listers,
> 
> 
> during our recent Reef Check Surveys in Red Sea Egypt we´ve observed some circular patches on a Millepora.
> We have sent these pics to some experts, but we don´t have a completely satisfying explanation so far.
> Maybe somebody can help? 
> 
> 
> 
> Possible explanations so far:
> -         Feeding scars Coralliophila (but where are they??? And why Millepora instead of Porites?)
> -          Feeding scars baby COTS? (COTS tend to create paths instead of single blotches?)
> -         Some kind of Coral Disease? 
> -         Anomaly of Millepora (sometimes Millepora forms "tissue bubbles" at branches as well as "bleached" small areas. But we have not seen these perfectly round patches so far...)
> 
> 
> You can watch the pics here:
> http://reefcheck.de/de/news-und-events/neues-von-reef-check/329-millepora-lesions 
> 
> 
> We would be happy if you could send your opinion to my email adress. Thanks!
> 
> 
> Best regards,
> Stephan Moldzio
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> °)#=< >=#(°< >=#(°< >°)=#< >°)#=< >=#(°< >=#(°< >°)#=< >°)#=< >=#(°<
> Biologische Meereskunde & Meeresaquaristik
> Dipl. biol. Stephan Moldzio
> Eschenburgstr. 6
> 38106 Braunschweig
> Tel.: +49 531 / 81482
> mobil: +49 151 / 12721681
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Coral-List mailing list
> Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list