Taxonomic re-appraisal of zooxanthellate Scleractinian Corals in the Maldive Archipelago

A census of scleractinian species was carried out in 2002 and 2003 in the atolls of South Male, Felidhu, Wataru and Ari, in the central Maldives. Thirty four stations were surveyed by scuba diving between the depths of 0 and 50m. One hundred and eighty zooxanthellate coral species belonging to 51 genera were recorded, of which 17 species belonging to 14 genera are new records for the Maldives. A complete list of zooxanthellate scleractinian species including our own results as well as documented records published by previous authors is given. This list includes 248 species belonging to 57 genera. The taxonomic status of a number of species of doubtful validity cited by previous authors is discussed. The need for additional sampling throughout the entire Maldive Archipelago and for a re-examination of Gardiner’s material is stressed.