Acanthastrea echinata
©Andy Lewis: A macro image of Acanthastrea echinata showing fleshy tissue covering the skeleton and forming forming concentric folds around the corallites.
©Anne Hoggett: A small (5-10 cm diameter) colony of Acanthastrea echinata on the shallow granite slope at Granite Bluff, Lizard Island. Identified by Dr Zoe Richards.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Hexacorallia
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Lobophylliidae
Genus
Acanthastrea
Species
Acanthastrea echinata
Status
near threatened
Colours
Distinguishing features
A coral with an encrusting to massive growth form, usually smaller than 1 metre in diameter. Corallites are round with thick walls and long septal teeth. Skeleton is covered with thick fleshy tissue that forms concentric folds. Colour is typically brown, grey or green.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
species: Acanthastrea brevis
is less fleshy and spikier than A. echinata.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Upper reef slopes.
Can be found in most habitats around Lizard Island.
Behaviour
A. echinata is a hermaphroditic broadcast spawner.
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
- Baird, A.H., J.R. Guest and B.L. Willis (2009). Systematic and biogeographical patterns in the reproductive biology of scleractinian corals, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 40: 551-571.
- Dinesen, Z.D. (1983). Shade-dwelling corals of the Great Barrier Reef, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 10: 173-185. LIRS catalog number 157.
- View all references