WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Fine Table Coral

Acropora cytherea

Also known as: Acropora Table Coral, Branching Coral, Staghorn Coral, Table Coral, Tabling Acropora

ENEndangeredIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi, Maldives · May 20081 / 3
01

Overview

Found in colonies, over drop-offs, subtidal reef slopes, and submerged reefs, of lagoons and seaward reefs. Colonies are wide flat tables, usually fine and thin, but maybe more robust in areas with strong or surge currents.

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

Body shape
branches

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 3
LIVES IN

Found in colonies, over drop-offs, subtidal reef slopes, and submerged reefs, of lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 3

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

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

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Stony Corals (Acroporidae)