
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
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