Acropora horrida
©Anne Hoggett: Acropora horrida branches showing polyps exposed during the day, Lizard Island lagoon.
©Anne Hoggett: Acropora horrida in the Lizard Island lagoon near Palfrey Island, providing habitat for many species of small fishes. Photo identified by Dr Zoe Richards who notes that this is one of the few Acropora species that has its tentacles extended during the day.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Hexacorallia
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Acroporidae
Genus
Acropora
Species
Acropora horrida
Status
insufficient data to assess
Colours
Distinguishing features
A branching to bushy Acropora, usually pale blue at Lizard Island with white or pale blue polyps. Tentacles are usually extended during the day.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Comments
Dr Zoe Richards (WA Museum) notes that this species is declining in abundance on reefs throughout its distribution. It used to be quite common at Orpheus Island but is now rare there.
There was a good stand of it between Palfrey and South Islands at Lizard Island in Jan 2015 but Zoe estimates that it was 98% dead in Jan 2017 due to the bleaching event in 2016.
Zoe observed coral egg/sperm bundles in the water on 14 Jan 2015 in that area and thought they might have been from this species.
by Anne Hoggett
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Veron, J.E.N. (2000). Corals of the World Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
Other references
- Pratchett, M.S. (2010). Changes in coral assemblages during an outbreak of Acanthaster planci at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef (1995-1999), Coral Reefs, 29: 717-725. LIRS catalog number 1344.