WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Bottlebrush Coral

Acropora echinata

Also known as: Acroporid Coral, Bottlebrush Acropora, Branching Coral, Bush Coral, Staghorn Coral

ENEndangeredIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 2
01

Overview

Found in clear, protected waters, of coral and rocky reefs. Branches have a bottlebrush appearance, and are often intertwined. Colours vary.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
bottlebrushbush

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in clear, protected waters, of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion 2

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2 comments

  • fishx6Top Contributor· 30 Apr 2015

    They feed on plankton

    Helpful
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FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

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Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumCnidaria
  3. classHexacorallia
  4. orderScleractinia
  5. familyAcroporidae
  6. genusAcropora
  7. speciesAcropora echinata (Dana, 1846)

SourcesWoRMSCorals of the World

06

More in the family

Stony Corals (Acroporidae)