Acropora multiacuta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Acropora multiacuta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Acroporidae |
| Genus: | Acropora |
| Species: | A. multiacuta |
| Binomial name | |
| Acropora multiacuta Nemenzo, 1967 | |
Acropora multiacuta is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by F. Nemenzo in 1967. Found in marine, tropical shallow reefs in lagoons, on rocks or on the tops of reefs, it occurs at depths between 3 and 15 m (9.8 and 49.2 ft). It is classed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it has a decreasing population. It is uncommon but found over a large area, including in two regions of Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef, and is classified under CITES Appendix II.
Acropora multiacuta occurs in dense colonies consisting of many branches, which contain long coral bodies growing in a straight line (axial corallites), decreasing in width towards the end of the branches.[2] Often white or cream in colour, incipient axial corallites occur below the axial corallites, and form branchlets. The species is similar to Acropora fastigata and Acropora suharsonoi.[2] It occurs in a marine environment in tropical, shallow reefs, on rocks, reef walls, lagoon areas exposed to wave action, and may be a dominant species. It occurs at depths of between 3 and 15 m (9.8 and 49.2 ft),[1] and is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).[3]