''Acropora kirstyae'' 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 important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and sec ...

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 is listed as a

vulnerable species A vulnerable species is a species which has been Conservation status, categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being threatened species, threatened with extinction unless the circumstances that are threatened species, ...

on the

IUCN Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biol ...

, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common and found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Description

''Acropora kirstyae'' forms in colonies of branches forming from a central point, and the structure features many thin branches and sub-branches, and incipient axial corallites are present. The branches can reach lengths of around . The tips of these branches are generally white, and the species is a pale orange-to-brown colour. The radial corallites are tube-shaped, tightly packed, and orderly, however become irregular towards the ends of the branches. At the ends of the branches, flaring lips may be present. It resembles ''Acropora exquisita''. It occurs in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered water, and in sheltered lagoons. It also exists in sheltered reef slopes, at depths of . It reaches maturity at between three and eight. It is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).

Distribution

''Acropora kirstyae'' is not common but found over a large range; the Indo-Pacific, the East China Sea, Japan, Eastern Australia, and the west Pacific. It is present in two regions of Indonesia, and also occurs in Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, the Rodrigues, Palau, Raja Ampat, and New Caledonia. It exists in temperatures between . There is no specific population data for the species, but overall, it is known to be decreasing. It is affected by bleaching by rising sea temperatures, fishing, coral disease, climate change, pollution, human development, infrastructure, and may be exported. It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List and is listed under CITES Appendix II, and can occur within Marine Protected Areas.

Taxonomy

It was first described by Jen Veron and C. C. Wallace in 1984 as ''Acropora kirstyae''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3946807 Acropora Cnidarians of the Pacific Ocean Fauna of the Indian Ocean Marine fauna of Asia Marine fauna of Oceania Vulnerable fauna of Asia Vulnerable fauna of Oceania Animals described in 1984