Acropora loisetteae
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| Acropora loisetteae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. loisetteae |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora loisetteae Wallace, 1994 | |
Acropora loisetteae is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered lagoons, it is found at depths between 1 and 30 m (3.3 and 98.4 ft). It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed under CITES Appendix II.
Acropora loisetteae is found in colonies of tree-like structures, and is blue or pink in colour.[2] Branches are circular, straight, thin[2] and up to 110 millimetres (4.3 in) long and between 5 and 12 millimetres (0.20 and 0.47 in) wide.[3] Branchlets contain axial corallites on the end, which are obvious and tube-shaped. The sides of the branchlets contain radial corallites up to 2.8mm wide,[3] which are uniform in size and small. It is similar to Acropora abrolhosensis, Acropora parilis, and Acropora pulchra.[2] It is found in a marine environment in tropical, shallow reefs, located in lagoons sheltered from wave action. It occurs at depths between 1 and 30 m (3.3 and 98.4 ft),[1] and is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).[4]