Acropora kosurini
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Acropora kosurini | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. kosurini |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora kosurini Wallace, 1994 | |
Acropora kosurini is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs, it occurs at depths of 8 to 20 m (26 to 66 ft). It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is believed to have a decreasing population. It is rare but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Acropora kosurini forms in corymbose colonies, and the branches are long and become thinner towards the ends.[2] Its branches have diameters of 4 to 12 millimetres (0.16 to 0.47 in) and lengths of up to 100 millimetres (3.9 in).[3] Branchlets contain axial corallites on the ends, which are rounded. Radial corallites are present on the sides of the branches and have outer diameters of up to 2.7mm,[3] which are located close together and contain small openings. There is a mixture of sizes of corallites, and the larger ones are the same size and orderly. The species is brown in colour. It is similar to Acropora divaricata, Acropora variabilis,[2] and Acropora hoeksemai.[3] It occurs on the slopes of shallow reefs in marine environments, and also on reef walls. It exists at depths of between 8 and 20 m (26 and 66 ft), and reaches maturity at between three and eight years.[1] It is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).[4]