Acropora caroliniana

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Acropora caroliniana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora
Species:
A. caroliniana
Binomial name
Acropora caroliniana
Nemenzo, 1976

Acropora caroliniana is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Nemenzo in 1976. Found in tropical, shallow reef slopes, it occurs at depths of 5 to 25 m (16 to 82 ft) in a marine environment. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population. It is rare, but has been found over a large area, and two-thirds of the regions of Indonesia.

Description

Acropora caroliniana species form in thick horizontal structures, made of flat branches.[2] It is light green,[3] pale blue or white-brown in colour, and are also found on small branchlets. These have large axial corallites with diameters up to 1.7 to 3.5 millimetres (0.067 to 0.138 in)[3] which become narrow at the ends, and curve upwards. The species' radial corallites are small and "pocket-like". It looks similar to Acropora lokani and Acropora loripes.[2][3] It is found on the upper slopes of tropical, shallow reefs, at depths of between 5 and 25 m (16 and 82 ft), and reaches maturity at over eight years.[1] The species is found at temperatures of 25.48 to 27.5 °C (77.86 to 81.50 °F).[4] Colonies have diameters of up to 50 centimetres (20 in) and branchlets can reach lengths of 25 millimetres (0.98 in) and widths of 8 millimetres (0.31 in).[3]

Distribution

Acropora caroliniana is uncommon but found over a large area; Australia, western Pacific, the

Acanthaster planci.[1] It is sometimes found in Marine Protected Areas. It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List as the population is decreasing, and is listed under Appendix II of CITES.[1]

Taxonomy

It was first described by F. Nemenzo in 1976 in the Philippines as Acropora caroliniana.[5]

References

  1. ^ . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Acropora caroliniana". Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ "Measurements and facts about Acropora caroliniana". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Acropora caroliniana Nemenzo, 1976". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 13 December 2014.