Melithaea Biserialis

Overview

Melithaea biserialis is a species of octocoral belonging to the family Melithaeidae. Like other members of its genus, it is an arborescent colonial coral that typically grows in fan, bush, or tree-like structures.

Distribution & habitat

This species is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, with documented occurrences in the Red Sea and along the southeastern coast of India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Appearance

The skeletal structure of this coral is characterized by a jointed axis, featuring flexible horny nodes separated by hard, calcareous internodes. The branches typically divide at these nodes, which often appear swollen. The colony is covered in a flexible membrane containing minute calcareous structures known as sclerites. These sclerites, which include forms such as double discs, spindles, and small clubs, are essential for the scientific identification of the species.