Coral Description
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia >> Phylum: Cnidaria >> Class: Anthozoa >> Order: Scleractinia >> Family: Acroporidae
Appearance:
- Digitate colonies
- Thick branches which taper
- Incipient axial corallites are common at branch bases
Colour: Usually purple, blue, cream or brown with blue or white branch tips
Axial Corallites: Smaller than the diameter of the branches due to tapering (2.8-4.2 mm)
Radial Corallites:
- Two sizes, usually in rows
- Corallites increase in length towards branch base
Similar species: Acropora humilis is similar in appearance but has larger axial corallites, and shorter radial corallites that do not increase in length towards the branch base.
Habitat: Exposed upper reef slopes and flats.
Acropora gemmifera – Natural colony, showing tapering branches and incipient axial corallites at base of branches
Natural colony, showing tapering branches and incipient axial corallites at base of branches
Acropora gemmifera – Radial corallites are in rows, and larger radial corallites increase in length towards the base
Radial corallites are in rows, and larger radial corallites increase in length towards the base
Acropora gemmifera – Small axial corallite
Small axial corallite
Acropora gemmifera – A bleached specimen on our coral frame
A bleached specimen on our coral frame
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