Palmerae Acropora

Scientific Name: Acropora palmerae
Species: Stony Corals (Acroporidae)
Other names: Branching Corals, Staghorn Coral, Fused Staghorn Coral.

Some Images

 

Description

Also known as Branching Corals, Staghorn Coral and Fused Staghorn Coral.

Found on coral and rocky reef flats and lagoons exposed to strong wave action.
This acropora is sturdy and encrusting, corallites when formed are of variable size and face in different directions.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 1m
Depth - 2-10m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Stony corals have hard stony skeletons, their polyps have six tentacles or are made up of multiples of six. These are usually nocturnal, however if the sky's are overcast, then many will feed during the day.
Generally the more robust corals life on exposed areas, while the smaller corals live in sheltered lagoons or deeper waters.
Stony corals are reef building corals and embedded in their flesh are thousands of minute single-celled marine plants called zooxanthellae which accounts for their colour.
These corals support a huge diversity of life, their main predator being the crown-of-thorns sea star.

Spotted

The Palmerae Acropora is found in or near the Indo-Pacific region(s) and has been photographed 5 times by user @fishx6

Share this with your friends!

0 Comments

No Comments. Be the first to add one

Leave a reply