''Acropora multiacuta'' 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 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

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 has a decreasing population. It is uncommon but found over a large area, including in two regions of Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef, and is classified under CITES Appendix II.

Description

''Acropora multiacuta'' occurs in dense colonies consisting of many branches, which contain long coral bodies growing in a straight line (axial corallites), decreasing in width towards the end of the branches. Often white or cream in colour, incipient axial corallites occur below the axial corallites, and form branchlets. The species is similar to ''

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 re ...

'' and ''

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 re ...

''. It occurs in a marine environment in tropical, shallow reefs, on rocks, reef walls, lagoon areas exposed to wave action, and may be a dominant species. It occurs at depths of between , and is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).

Distribution

''Acropora multicuta'' is found over a large area but is generally rare; the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific, the western Pacific, the Solomon Islands, Southeast Asia, Eastern Australia, Raja Ampat, and Papua New Guinea. In the Great Barrier Reef, this species is common, and also occurs in two regions of Indonesia. It is usually found in groups of colonies. Occurring at a maximum water temperature of , the population of the species is decreasing. It is threatened by climate change, rising sea temperatures leading to bleaching, coral disease, reef destruction, being prey to ''Acanthaster planci'', and human activity. It is classed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, is listed under CITES Appendix II, and could occur within Marine Protected Areas.

Taxonomy

It was first described by F. Nemenzo in 1967 in the Philippines as ''Acropora multicuta''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3946084 Acropora Animals described in 1967 Vulnerable animals