Acropora dendrum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Acropora dendrum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. dendrum |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora dendrum (Bassett-Smith, 1890) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Acropora dendrum is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Bassett-Smith in 1890. Found in tropical, shallow reefs in areas of powerful waves at depths of 5 to 20 m (16 to 66 ft), it is threatened by disease. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Acropora dendrum occurs in corymbose structures which are 0.5 to 1 m (1.6 to 3.3 ft) wide, which become narrow at the ends and the corals have large gaps between other corals.[2] The radial corallites are almost submerged into the branches, making them feel smooth. It has small axial corallites on the end of each branchlet.[2] Its axial corallites have diameters of 1.4 to 2.2 millimetres (0.055 to 0.087 in) (outer) and 0.5 to 1.2 millimetres (0.020 to 0.047 in) (inner), and the branches can reach 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in length.[3] It is cream of pale brown in colour, there are no similar-looking species, and it is rare.[2] It is found in tropical, shallow reefs in areas that are exposed to powerful waves, and on the slopes of reefs, at depths of 5 to 20 m (16 to 66 ft), and it reaches maturity at over eight years.[1]