Acropora pulchra

Acropora pulchra - brown-cream colour Reefscapers Maldives

Coral Description

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia >> Phylum: Cnidaria >> Class: Anthozoa >> Order: Scleractinia >> Family: Acroporidae

Appearance:

  • Cylindrical or corymbose branches
  • Horizontally fused branches with upturned ends, branches are terete

Color: Pale to dark brown or blue, often with pale blue tips

Axial Corallites: Of a smaller diameter (1.8-3.5 mm) when compared to A. aspera

Radial Corallites:

  • Mixed sizes
  • Projecting lower lips (labellate)

Similar Species: Acropora aspera has larger and more tightly packed, scale-like radial corallites. May superficially resemble Acropora muricata.

Distinctive Trait: In terms of reef composition, Acropora pulchra may be the only Acropora species found on the inner-most zone of reef flats, found among coral rubble and macroalgae.

Habitat: Shallow back-reef margins

Jump to »  Acropora