The mushroom coral fauna (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) of Brunei Darussalam (South China Sea) and its relation to the Coral Triangle

Brunei Darussalam is situated on the northwest coast of Borneo, just outside the westernmost boundary of the area presently recognised as the centre of maximum marine biodiversity, the so-called Coral Triangle. This diversity is particularly quantified with regard to numbers of reef coral species. Most coral reefs of Brunei are offshore, submerged patch reefs, which makes them hard to discern from the water surface. Few coral studies have been carried out here, although recently an extensive reef coral inventory has been published for Brunei. The present study builds on this inventory by presenting a focus on the mushroom coral fauna of Brunei, based on a survey of the family Fungiidae at 17 sites varying in distance offshore. The purpose of this study is to compare the mushroom coral fauna of Brunei with other faunas in the region, which have been surveyed in a similar manner. A total of 33 species has been recorded, which is similar to various locations in the Coral Triangle and other areas around northern Borneo.