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
Acropora pulchra – Brown-cream colour, growing on our coral frames
Brown-cream colour, on our frames
Acropora pulchra – small, scale-like corallites
Acropora pulchra – small, scale-like corallites
Acropora pulchra – Relatively small axial corallites (compared to Acropora aspera), at the end of terete branches
Relatively small axial corallites (compared to Acropora aspera), at the end of terete branches
Acropora pulchra – Close-up of radial corallites with mixed sizes on cylindrical branches
Close-up of radial corallites with mixed sizes on cylindrical branches
Acropora pulchra – Skeleton detail
Skeleton detail
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