Acropora palmerae

Acropora palmerae is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It is also found in Palau and the Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Andaman Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, Okinawa Island, Mauritius, Micronesia, the Cook Islands and the Philippines. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs on flats exposed the action of strong waves and in lagoons, from depths of 0 to 12 metres (0 to 39 ft). It was described by Wells in 1954.

Acropora palmerae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora
Species:
A. palmerae
Binomial name
Acropora palmerae
Wells, 1954
Synonyms
  • Acropora minuta Veron, 2000

Description

It occurs in encrusted colonies containing irregular branches; these colonies sometimes reach diameters of over 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). Its axial corallites are obvious but inconsistent, and it has mainly rasp-like radial corallites. The species is pink- or green-brown in colour. It looks similar to Acropora pinguis.[2]

Distribution

It is classed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List and it is believed that its population is decreasing; the species is also listed under Appendix II of CITES. Figures of its population are unknown, but is likely to be threatened by the global reduction of coral reefs, the increase of temperature causing coral bleaching, climate change, human activity, the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) and disease.[1] It occurs in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean; it also occurs in Palau and the Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Andaman Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, Okinawa Island, Mauritius, Micronesia, the Cook Islands and the Philippines. It is found at depths of between 0 and 12 metres (0 and 39 ft) in tropical shallow reefs on exposed flats or in lagoons.[1]

Taxonomy

It was described as Acropora palmerae by Wells in 1954.[3]

References
  1. Richards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G. & Reboton, C. (2014). "Acropora palmerae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T133531A54278678. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133531A54278678.en.
  2. "Acropora palmerae". Australian Institute of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. "Acropora palmerae". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
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