Family Oculinidae Gray, 1847

Genus Oculina Lamarck, 1816

Oculina virgosa Squires, 1958. Plate 1, figure 7. Map symbol ×

1958.

Oculina virgosa Squires, p. 39, Pl. 5, figs. 8-16, text-fig. 11.

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A diffusely branching coral with branches of varying diameter, ranging from a few millemeters near the tips to many centimeters near the base. Corallites are slightly protuberent and are ringed by costae corresponding in position to the septa. The surface of the coral between branches is delicately granular, the granules arranged in loose spirals about the branch. The corallites are circular, two to four millimeters in diameter and have a variable number of septa, usually 28. The septa are short and reach less than one quarter the distance to the centre of the corallite. The centre of the calice is filled by short papilli formed of seven pali and columellar rods.

The genus Oculina is generally considered to be Atlantic in distribution although several fossil species are recorded from the Australasian region. Oculina virgosa is first recorded in Miocene (Altonian) sediments and has a more or less complete record in the later Tertiary of New Zealand. It is characterised, and differs from other species of Oculina by the peculiar arrangement of septa in cycles of seven rather than the customary six. Despite its extensive fossil history, the species is known from only a single locality in modern seas.

Occurrence: Two miles south of North Gape, Northland. 55 fathoms. Fragments of specimens taken alive (Victoria University, Zoology Department.)

Distribution: New Zealand.