A newly documented species of Madracis (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) from the Caribbean

ABSTRACT Madracis auretenra, new species, is described for a common, shallow-water, zooxanthellate coral species found throughout the wider Caribbean. This new species is distinguished from other species of the genus by a thin branched, dendritic morphology and depth distribution of 1–60 m. Other characteristics include: non-living basal branch portions; a fairly smooth coenosteum; a distinct line of coenosteal spines centrally located between adjacent corallites; no visible secondary septa in corallites; and closely spaced corallites. Individuals of this taxon have been incorrectly referred to Madracis mirabilis (Duchassaing & Michelotti 1860), which is a deep-water species and which is synonymous with Madracis myriaster (Milne-Edwards & Haime 1849), in several publications subsequent to 1973. Herein, a brief explanation of the taxonomic confusion surrounding M. mirabilis and the undescribed species is provided along with a complete description of this new species of Madracis. Records of the new species ...