Acropora derawanensis
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| Acropora derawanensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. derawanensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora derawanensis Wallace, 1997 | |
Acropora derawanensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in tropical, shallow reefs sheltered from the waves in a marine environment, it is found at depths of 10 to 25 m (33 to 82 ft) on reef slopes. 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. It is easily damaged.
Acropora derawanensis is found in colonies composed of upward-facing or flat collections of branches, and are up to 1 m (3.3 ft) wide.[2] These branches reach lengths of up to 80 millimetres (3.1 in)[3] and are easily damaged and thin, and the axial corallites on the end of the branches are long, and tube-like. These axial corallites have outer diameters of up to 1.4 millimetres (0.055 in)[3] and are blue and white, while the species is generally a red-brown colour. The radial corallites, on the sides of the branches, are small and tube-shaped, and some can be sharp and "pocket-shaped". This uncommon coral resembles Acropora filiformis and Acropora kirstyae.[2] It is found in a marine environment in tropical, shallow reefs that are sheltered from the waves, at depths of 10 to 25 m (33 to 82 ft), and is delicate. It reaches maturity at over eight years.[1]