Acropora lokani
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| Acropora lokani | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. lokani |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora lokani Wallace, 1994 | |
Acropora lokani is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs and sheltered lagoons, it occurs at depths between 8 and 25 m (26 and 82 ft). It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and is believed to have a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, including in three regions of Indonedia, and is listed under CITES Appendix II.
Acropora lokani is found in colonies up to 30 centimetres (12 in) wide and consisting of upright strong branches.[2][3] It is brown, cream or blue in colour, and its branches have diameters of 5 to 7 millimetres (0.20 to 0.28 in) and may grow to 20 millimetres (0.79 in) long.[3] The branches divide into branchlets, which contain axial, incipient axial, and radial corallites. The axial corallites are located on the end of the branchlets and are large and tube-shaped, with inner diameters of between 0.6 and 0.9 millimetres (0.024 and 0.035 in) and outer diameters of 2.2 to 2.6 millimetres (0.087 to 0.102 in). The radial corallites are small and are both surrounded by and contain elaborate spinules.[2][3] The species looks similar to Acropora caroliniana and Acropora granulosa.[2] It is found in sheltered lagoons, flats of shallow reefs, patch reefs, and in other shallow marine environments. It occurs at depths of between 8 and 25 m (26 and 82 ft).[1] It is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).[4]