Acropora kimbeensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Acropora kimbeensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. kimbeensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora kimbeensis Wallace, 1999 | |
Acropora kimbeensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. Carden Wallace in 1999. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs usually at depths of 3 to 12 m (9.8 to 39.4 ft), but can occur as low as 15 m (49 ft). It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common and found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Acropora kimbeensis is found in compact colonies in bush-like structures.[2] It is yellow, blue, or cream in colour, and the branches are upward-facing, become thinner towards the ends, and are caespitosed. The branchlets contain small, obvious axial corallites, and the incipient axial corallites are spaced equally. Radial corallites are present up the sides of the branchlets, and each contains a small opening (below 1 mm (0.039 in) in size). It looks similar to Acropora cerealis and Acropora subulata.[2] Branches are up to 80 millimetres (3.1 in) long.[3] It is found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs on the upper slopes, usually at depths of between 3 and 12 m (9.8 and 39.4 ft). It can also occur in lagoons, patch reefs, reef fronts, and reef flats, and can exist at depths as low as 15 m (49 ft). It reaches maturity at between three and eight years, and lives for more than ten years.[1]