''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony

coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and sec ...

in the phylum

Cnidaria Cnidaria () is a phylum under kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of aquatic animals found both in freshwater and marine environments, predominantly the latter. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that ...

. Some of its

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

are known as table coral,

elkhorn coral Elkhorn coral (''Acropora palmata'') is an important reef-building coral in the Caribbean. The species has a complex structure with many branches which resemble that of elk antlers; hence, the common name. The branching structure creates habit ...

, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef.

Anatomy and distribution

Depending on the species and location, ''Acropora'' species may grow as plates or slender or broad branches. Like other corals, ''Acropora'' corals are colonies of individual polyps, which are about 2 mm across and share tissue and a

nerve net A nerve net consists of interconnected neurons lacking a brain or any form of cephalization. While organisms with bilateral body symmetry are normally associated with a condensation of neurons or, in more advanced forms, a central nervous syst ...

. The polyps can withdraw back into the coral in response to movement or disturbance by potential predators, but when undisturbed, they protrude slightly. The polyps typically extend further at night to help capture plankton and organic matter from the water. The species are distributed in the Indo-Pacific (over 100 species) and Caribbean (3 species). However, the true number of species is unknown: firstly, the validity of many of these species is questioned as some have been shown to represent hybrids, for example ''Acropora prolifera''; and secondly, some species have been shown to represent cryptic species complexes.

Threats

Symbiodinium : ''This is about the genus sometimes called Zoox. For the company, see Zoox (company)'' ''Symbiodinium'' is a genus of dinoflagellates that encompasses the largest and most prevalent group of endosymbiotic dinoflagellates known. These unicell ...

'',

symbiotic Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...

, live in the corals'

cell Cell most often refers to: * Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life Cell may also refer to: Locations * Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery ...

s and produce energy for the animals through

photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored i ...

. Environmental destruction has led to a dwindling of populations of ''Acropora'', along with other coral species. ''Acropora'' is especially susceptible to

bleaching Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used industrially or domestically to remove color (whitening) from a fabric or fiber or to clean or to remove stains in a process called bleaching. It often refers specifically, to ...

when stressed. Bleaching is due to the loss of the coral's zooxanthellae, which are a golden-brown color. Bleached corals are stark white and may die if new ''Symbiodinium'' cells cannot be assimilated. Common causes of bleaching and coral death include pollution, abnormally warm water temperatures, increased

ocean acidification Ocean acidification is the reduction in the pH value of the Earth’s ocean. Between 1751 and 2021, the average pH value of the ocean surface has decreased from approximately 8.25 to 8.14. The root cause of ocean acidification is carbon dioxid ...

, sedimentation, and eutrophication. In 2014 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed ten ''Acropora'' species as 'threatened'.

Reef-keeping

Most ''Acropora'' species are brown or green, but a few are brightly colored, and those rare corals are prized by aquarists. Captive propagation of ''Acropora'' is widespread in the reef-keeping community. Given the right conditions, many ''Acropora'' species grow quickly, and individual colonies can exceed a meter across in the wild. In a well-maintained reef aquarium, finger-sized fragments can grow into medicine ball-sized colonies in one to two years. Captive specimens are steadily undergoing changes due to selection which enable them to thrive in the home aquarium. In some cases, fragments of captive specimens are used to repopulate barren reefs in the wild. ''Acropora'' species are challenging to keep in a home aquarium. They require bright light, stable temperatures, regular addition of calcium and alkalinity supplements, and clean, turbulent water. Common parasites of colonies in

reef aquarium A reef aquarium or reef tank is a marine aquarium that prominently displays live corals and other marine invertebrates as well as fish that play a role in maintaining the tropical coral reef environment. A reef aquarium requires appropriately ...

s are "Acropora-eating flatworms" ''Amakusaplana acroporae'', and "red bugs" (''

Tegastes acroporanus Tegastidae is a family of copepods, which are characterised by having laterally compressed bodies (resembling that of an amphipod), a claw-like mandible in the nauplius stage, and by a modified male genital complex. 85 species have been describe ...

'').

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Acropora'': *''

Acropora abrolhosensis ''Acropora abrolhosensis'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by John Veron in 1985. Found in sheltered lagoons and shallow reefs, it is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. The population of the species is ...

'' Veron, 1985 *''

Acropora abrotanoides ''Acropora abrotanoides'' is a species of acroporid coral found in Indo-Pacific waters from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden east to the East China Sea, Japan, the central Pacific Ocean and Australia. It is found in shallow coral reefs that are ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) *''

Acropora acervata ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora aculeus ''Acropora aculeus'' is a species of acroporid corals found throughout the Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan and the East China Sea. It is also present in the western Pacific Ocean. It is an uncommon specie ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora acuminata ''Acropora acuminata'' is a species of acroporid coral found in Australia, the Red Sea, the central Indo-Pacific, Japan, the northern Indian Ocean, the East China Sea, southeast Asia, and the western Pacific Ocean. It is particularly susceptib ...

'' (Verrill, 1864) *''

Acropora alvarezi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Wallace, 2008 *''

Acropora anglica ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Duncan, 1866) *''

Acropora anthocercis ''Acropora anthocercis'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by G. Brook in 1893. Found on the top slopes of reefs, it is often in contact with strong waves. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a de ...

'' (Brook, 1893) *''

Acropora arabensis ''Acropora arabensis'' is a species of acroporid coral native to the Indian Ocean and was originally described by Gregor Hodgson and Kent Carpenter in 1995. It is a locally common species usually found in upper reef slopes and lagoons, most comm ...

'' Hodgson and Carpenter, 1995 *''

Acropora arafura ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, Done & Muir, 2012 *''

Acropora aspera ''Acropora aspera'' is a species of staghorn coral in the family Acroporidae. It is found on reef flats and in lagoons in very shallow water in the western Indo-Pacific Ocean. Description ''Acropora aspera'' is a scantily branching, colonial cor ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *'' Acropora austera'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora awi ''Acropora awi'' is a species of acroporid coral that was described by Wallace and Wolstenholme in 1998. Found in fringing reefs, the slopes of shallow reefs, and sandy slopes, it occurs in a marine environment. The species is rated as vulner ...

Wallace Wallace may refer to: People * Clan Wallace in Scotland * Wallace (given name) * Wallace (surname) * Wallace (footballer, born 1986), full name Wallace Fernando Pereira, Brazilian football left-back * Wallace (footballer, born 1987), full name ...

and Wolstenholme, 1998 *''

Acropora bartonensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Wallace, 2008 *''

Acropora batunai ''Acropora batunai'' is a species of acroporid coral that was described by Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in protected, shallow reefs, it occurs in a marine environment at depths of up to . The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red Lis ...

, 1997 *''

Acropora borneoensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Felix, 1921) *''

Acropora branchi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Riegl, 1995 *'' Acropora britannica''† Wallace, 2008 *''

Acropora bushyensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *''

Acropora capillaris ''Acropora capillaris'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ...

'' (Klunzinger, 1879) *''

Acropora cardenae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wells, 1986 *''

Acropora carduus ''Acropora carduus'' is a species of acroporid coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora caroliniana ''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 in a marine environment. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red Li ...

'' Nemenzo, 1976 *''

Acropora cerealis ''Acropora cerealis'' is a species of acroporid coral found throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans, from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the Hawaiian Islands and the Johnston Atoll. It can be found on upper reef slopes in shallow tropic ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora cervicornis The staghorn coral (''Acropora cervicornis'') is a branching, stony coral with cylindrical branches ranging from a few centimetres to over two metres in length and height. It occurs in back reef and fore reef environments from depth. The upper ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) - staghorn coral *''

Acropora chesterfieldensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *''

Acropora clathrata ''Acropora clathrata'', commonly known as lattice table coral is a species of stony corals belonging to the family Acroporidae. They are a zooxanthellate coral, which are generally found in fringing reefs, sheltered reefs and back reef habitats ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora cytherea ''Acropora cytherea'' is a stony coral which forms horizontal table like structures. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean in areas with little wave action, favouring back reef environments from depth. Description ''Acropora cytherea'' is a colo ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora darrellae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Santodomingo, Wallace & Johnson, 2015 *''

Acropora deformis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Michelin, 1840) *'' Acropora dendrum'' (Bassett-Smith, 1890) *'' Acropora derawaensis'' Wallace, 1997 *''

Acropora desalwii ''Acropora desalwii'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr Carden Wallace in 1994. Found in sheltered, tropical, shallow reefs, mainly on the slopes, this species is generally found at depths below , but this can be as ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora digitifera ''Acropora digitifera'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, Australia, southeast Asia, the central Indo-Pacific, Japan, the west Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora divaricata ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora donei ''Acropora donei'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by J. Veron and Carden Wallace in 1984. Found in fringing reefs and the upper slopes of shallow reefs, it occurs at depths of . The species is rated as vulnerable on th ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *''

Acropora downingi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, 1999 *''

Acropora duncani ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Reuss, 1866) *''

Acropora echinata ''Acropora echinata'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dana in 1846. Found in shallow, tropical, sheltered reefs in marine environments, it is found at depths of in clear water. The species is listed as vulnerable on ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora elegans ''Acropora elegans'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Henri Milne-Edwards in 1860. Found in sheltered, sloping reefs, this species occurs at depth. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List The ...

'' (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1860) *''

Acropora elenae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Santodomingo, Wallace & Johnson, 2015 *'' Acropora elseyi'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora emanuelae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Santodomingo, Wallace & Johnson, 2015 *''

Acropora eurystoma ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Klunzinger, 1879) *''

Acropora fastigata ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Nemenzo, 1967 *''

Acropora fennemai ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Gerth, 1921) *''

Acropora fenneri ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora filiformis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora florida The branch coral (''Acropora florida'') is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and the East China Sea, Cook Islands and the oceanic west Paci ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora gemmifera ''Acropora gemmifera'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the central Indo-Pacific, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, southeastern Asia, Australia, the East China Sea, Japan, the oceanic central and ...

'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora glauca ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Brook, 1893) *''

Acropora globiceps ''Acropora globiceps'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the oceanic central and western Pacific Ocean and central Indo-Pacific. It can also be found in the Great Barrier Reef, the Philippines, the Andaman Islands, Polynesia, Micronesia ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora gomezi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora grandis ''Acropora grandis'' is a species of colonial stony coral. It is a large species with multiple branches forming a bush-like structure and is found on reefs and in lagoons. It is native to the tropical western Indo-Pacific and has a range extendi ...

'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora granulosa ''Acropora granulosa'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern and southwest Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, Australia, the East China Sea, Japan, the oceanic central and western Pacific Ocean, and the central Indo-Pacific. It occurs ...

'' (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1860) *''

Acropora haidingeri ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Reuss, 1864) *''

Acropora halmaherae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace and Wolstenholme, 1998 *''

Acropora hasibuani ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Santodomingo, Wallace & Johnson, 2015 *''

Acropora hemprichii ''Acropora hemprichii'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg in 1834. It lives in reefs at depths of for between 13 and 24 years. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, an ...

'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *''

Acropora herklotsi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Reuss, 1866) *''

Acropora hoeksemai ''Acropora hoeksemai'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in shallow reefs in a marine environment, it is found at depths of . It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, ...

'' Wallace, 1997 *'' Acropora horrida'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora humilis ''Acropora humilis'', also known as finger coral, is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the northern and southwestern Indian Ocean, Australia, the central Indo-Pacific, Japan, southeast Asia, the East China S ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora hyacinthus ''Acropora hyacinthus'' is a species of Acropora described from a specimen collected in Fiji by James Dwight Dana in 1846. It is thought to have a range that includes the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific waters, southeast Asia, Japan, the East C ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora indonesia ''Acropora indonesia'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered flat locations or gentle slopes, it occurs at depths of . It is listed as a vuln ...

'' Wallace, 1997 *''

Acropora intermedia ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora jacquelineae ''Acropora jacquelineae'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the eastern Indian Ocean and the central and western Pacific Ocean. It can be found offshore of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Samoan Islands, and the Solomon Island ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora japonica ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora kimbeensis ''Acropora kimbeensis'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. Carden Wallace in 1999. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs usually at depths of , but can occur as low as . It is listed as a vulnerable species on the ...

'' Wallace, 1999 *''

Acropora kirstyae ''Acropora kirstyae'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Jen Veron and C. C. Wallace in 1984. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered areas usually at depths of , and also occurs in sheltered lagoons. It i ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *''

Acropora kosurini ''Acropora kosurini'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs, it occurs at depths of . It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is believed to h ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *'' Acropora lamarcki'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora latistella ''Acropora latistella'' is a species of '' Acropora'' polyp coral found in tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean from depths ranging from 3 – 20 meters. References External links * * Acropora {{Acropora-stub ...

'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora laurae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Santodomingo, Wallace & Johnson, 2015 *'' Acropora lavandulina''† (Michelin, 1840) *''

Acropora listeri ''Acropora listeri'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the northern Indian Ocean, Australia, the central Indo-Pacific, Japan, southeast Asia, the East China Sea and the central and western Pacific Ocean. ...

'' (Brook, 1893) *''

Acropora loisetteae ''Acropora loisetteae'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered lagoons, it is found at depths between . It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Re ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora lokani ''Acropora lokani'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs and sheltered lagoons, it occurs at depths between . It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and is ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora longicyathus ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1860) *''

Acropora loripes ''Acropora loripes'' is a species of branching colonial stony coral. It is common on reefs, upper reef slopes and reef flats in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its type locality is the Great Barrier Reef. Description ''Acropora loripes'' is a branch ...

'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora lovelli ''Acropora lovelli'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It can also be found in Palau and the southern Mariana Islands, the Red Sea, Mauri ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *''

Acropora lutkeni ''Acropora lutkeni'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the central Indo-Pacific, Japan, Australia, the northern Indian Ocean, the East China Sea, southeast Asia, and the central and western Pacific Ocean. The species also occurs in the ...

'' Crossland, 1952 *''

Acropora macrocalyx ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Wallace & Bosselini, 2015 *''

Acropora microclados ''Acropora microclados'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg in 1834. Found in marine, tropical shallow reefs on the upper slopes, it is found at depths of . It is listed as a vulnerable spec ...

'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *''

Acropora microphthalma ''Acropora microphthalma'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and c ...

'' (Verrill, 1869) *''

Acropora millepora ''Acropora millepora'' is a species of branching stony coral native to the western Indo-Pacific where it is found in shallow water from the east coast of Africa to the coasts of Japan and Australia. It was first described in 1834 by Christian Go ...

'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *''

Acropora monticulosa ''Acropora monticulosa'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It is also found in th ...

'' (Brueggemann, 1879) *''

Acropora mossambica ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Riegl, 1995 *''

Acropora multiacuta ''Acropora multiacuta'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by F. Nemenzo in 1967. Found in marine, tropical shallow reefs in lagoons, on rocks or on the tops of reefs, it occurs at depths between . It is classed as a vulner ...

'' Nemenzo, 1967 *''

Acropora muricata ''Acropora muricata'', commonly called staghorn coral, is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, Australia, central Indo-Pacific, Japan, Southeast Asia, the East China Sea and the ocean ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''

Acropora nana ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Studer, 1878) *''

Acropora nasuta ''Acropora nasuta'' is a species of branching stony coral in the family Acroporidae. It is native to the western and central Indo-Pacific where it is found in shallow reef habitats. Like other corals of the genus '' Acropora'', it is susceptible ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora natalensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Riegl, 1995 *''

Acropora ornata ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (DeFrance, 1828) *''

Acropora palmata Elkhorn coral (''Acropora palmata'') is an important reef-building coral in the Caribbean. The species has a complex structure with many branches which resemble that of elk antlers; hence, the common name. The branching structure creates habit ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) - elkhorn coral *''

Acropora palmerae ''Acropora palmerae'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It is also found in Palau and the Mar ...

'' Wells, 1954 *''

Acropora paniculata ''Acropora paniculata'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Addison Emery Verrill in 1902. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs on the upper slopes, it occurs at depths of between . It is classed as a vulnerable speci ...

'' Verrill, 1902 *''

Acropora papillare ''Acropora papillare'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Latypov in 1992. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in areas exposed to waves, it occurs at depths of between . It is classed as a vulnerable species on the ...

'' Latypov, 1992 *'' Acropora pectinata'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora pharaonis ''Acropora pharaonis'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Milne-Edwards and Haime in 1860. Found in marine, tropical, reefs on slopes sheltered from wave action, it occurs at depths of between . It is classed as a vulner ...

'' (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1860) *''

Acropora pichoni ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals ...

'' Wallace, 1999 *''

Acropora piedmontensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Wallace & Bosselini, 2015 *''

Acropora plumosa ''Acropora plumosa'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. C. C. Wallace and J. Wolstenholme in 1998. Found in marine, tropical, reefs on slopes sheltered from wave action, and on reef walls. It occurs at depths betwee ...

'' Wallace and Wolstenholme, 1998 *''

Acropora polystoma ''Acropora polystoma'' is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by G. Brook in 1891. Found in marine, tropical, reefs on upper slopes where waves are strong, it occurs at depths between . It is classed as a vulnerable species on ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora prolifera ''Acropora prolifera'', the fused staghorn coral, is a branching, colonial, stony coral found in shallow parts of the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas and southern Florida. Description ''Acropora prolifera'' is very similar to staghorn coral (''Acr ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) - fused staghorn coral *''

Acropora proteacea ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Wallace, 2008 *''

Acropora proximalis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora pulchra ''Acropora pulchra'' is a species of colonial staghorn coral in the family Acroporidae. It is found on the back fringes of reefs in shallow water in the western Indo-Pacific Ocean. The oldest fossils of this species date back to the Pleistocene. ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora renemai ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Santodomingo, Wallace & Johnson, 2015 *''

Acropora retusa ''Acropora retusa'' is a species of '' Acropora'' coral found in U.S. waters in Guam, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas References External links * * Acropora {{acropora-stub ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora ridzwani ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Ditlev, 2003 *''

Acropora robusta ''Acropora robusta'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and cent ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora roemeri ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Duncan, 1866) *''

Acropora rongelapensis ''Acropora rongelapensis'' is a species of branching scleractinian corals. It is only known from the lagoon of Rongelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, ...

'' Richards & Wallace, 2004 *'' Acropora roseni'' Wallace, 1999 *''

Acropora rudis ''Acropora rudis'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is an uncommon species and is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species because it is particularly susceptib ...

'' (Rehberg, 1892) *''

Acropora rufa ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron, 2000 *''

Acropora russelli ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *'' Acropora salentina''† Wallace & Bosselini, 2015 *''

Acropora samoensis ''Acropora samoensis'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and ce ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora sarmentosa ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora secale ''Acropora secale'' is a species of branching staghorn stony coral. It is found in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the type locality is Sri Lanka. The oldest fossils found date back to the Pleistocene. Description ''Acropora secal ...

'' (Studer, 1878) *''

Acropora selago ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Studer, 1878) *'' Acropora seriata'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *'' Acropora serrata'' Lamarck *''

Acropora simplex ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace and Wolstenholme, 1998 *'' Acropora sirikitiae'' Wallace, Phongsuwan & Muir, 2012 *''

Acropora slovenica ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† Wallace & Bosselini, 2015 *''

Acropora solanderi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

''† (Defrance, 1828) *''

Acropora solitaryensis ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *'' Acropora sordiensis'' Riegl, 1995 *''

Acropora spathulata ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora speciosa ''Acropora speciosa'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea, eastern Australia and the oceanic west ...

'' (Quelch, 1886) *''

Acropora spicifera ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora squarrosa ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Ehrenberg, 1834) *''

Acropora striata ''Acropora striata'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Japan and the East China Sea. It can also be found in the Marshall Islands, the Society Islands, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, th ...

'' (Verrill, 1866) *''

Acropora subglabra ''Acropora subglabra'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs, ...

'' (Brook, 1891) *''

Acropora subulata ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora suharsonoi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora sukarnoi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, 1997 *''

Acropora tanegashimensi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' -s Veron, 1990 *''

Acropora tenella ''Acropora tenella'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the central Indo-Pacific, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic western Pacific Ocean. It occurs on lower slopes of reefs at depths of . Taxonomy It was described ...

'' (Brook, 1892) *''

Acropora tenuis ''Acropora tenuis'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest, northwest and northern Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea a ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora torihalimeda ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora tortuosa ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora tuberculosa ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Milne Edwards, 1860) *'' Acropora turaki'' Wallace, 1994 *''

Acropora valenciennesi ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1860) *''

Acropora valida ''Acropora valida'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwestern, northwestern and northern Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China ...

'' (Dana, 1846) *''

Acropora variolosa ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' (Klunzinger, 1879) *''

Acropora vaughani ''Acropora vaughani'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic western and central Pacific Ocean. It is also found in Mad ...

'' Wells, 1954 *''

Acropora verweyi ''Acropora verweyi'' is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic western Pacific Ocean. It is also found in th ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *''

Acropora walindii ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Wallace, 1999 *''

Acropora willisae ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984 *'' Acropora wilsonae''† Wallace, 2008 *''

Acropora yongei ''Acropora'' is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. ''Acropora'' species are some of the major reef corals r ...

'' Veron and Wallace, 1984

References

External links

* {{Authority control Acroporidae Coral reefs Articles containing video clips Scleractinia genera

Anatomy and distribution

Threats

Reef-keeping

Species

References

Further reading

External links