Acropora derawanensis

Acropora derawanensis
Conservation status
	; Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Acroporidae
Genus:	Acropora
Species:	A. derawanensis
Binomial name
	Acropora derawanensis; Wallace, 1997

Acropora derawanensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in tropical, shallow reefs sheltered from the waves in a marine environment, it is found at depths of 10 to 25 m (33 to 82 ft) on reef slopes. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II. It is easily damaged.

Description

Acropora derawanensis is found in colonies composed of upward-facing or flat collections of branches, and are up to 1 m (3.3 ft) wide.^[2] These branches reach lengths of up to 80 millimetres (3.1 in)^[3] and are easily damaged and thin, and the axial corallites on the end of the branches are long, and tube-like. These axial corallites have outer diameters of up to 1.4 millimetres (0.055 in)^[3] and are blue and white, while the species is generally a red-brown colour. The radial corallites, on the sides of the branches, are small and tube-shaped, and some can be sharp and "pocket-shaped". This uncommon coral resembles Acropora filiformis and Acropora kirstyae.^[2] It is found in a marine environment in tropical, shallow reefs that are sheltered from the waves, at depths of 10 to 25 m (33 to 82 ft), and is delicate. It reaches maturity at over eight years.^[1]

Distribution

Acropora derawanesis is uncommon but found over a large area; central

Acanthaster planci as it is too fragile.^[1]^[4] Some specimens occur within Marine Protected Areas, it listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List as the population is decreasing, and is listed under Appendix II of CITES.^[1]