831 species

Acropora appressa

(Ehrenberg, 1834)

Acropora

Oken, 1815

Characters: Colonies are caespitose to corymbose upright bushes. Axial corallites are conspicuous and conical in shape. Radial corallites may form incipient axial corallites. Most radial corallites are tubular with nariform openings.

Colour: Whitish extremities with brown lower branches and brown corallites.

Similar Species: Acropora cophodactyla. See also A. anthocercis, which has similar incipient axial corallites but is plate-like with appressed radial corallites, and A. loripes which has similar radial corallites but smaller axial corallites and an upright growth-form.

Habitat: Shallow rocky foreshores and reefs.

Abundance: Common in in east Africa, uncommon elsewhere.

Taxonomic Note: Wallace (1999) designated a lectotype she believed was similar to Acropora dendrum. The images presented here, however, do not resemble A. dendrum but are in close accordance with Brook's description (Brook, 1893). These species are readily separable in the field.

Taxonomic References: Veron (2000a);

Identification Guides: Turak and DeVantier (2011b);

COTW History since Veron (2000a)
  • Family: All families are currently under review
  • Genus/species: No change