Characters: Colonies have irregularly prostrate branches with short sub-branches and may form extensive thickets. Axial corallites are hardly distinguishable from radial corallites. Radial corallites are very elongate and tubular and are curved, with sharp edges. Many form incipient axial corallites giving branches a spiky surface.
Colour: Brown.
Similar Species: Acropora striata, which has rounded branch ends and rounded radial corallites. See also A. akajimensis and A. fenneri.
Habitat: Shallow lagoons and reefs.
Abundance: Common in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Taxonomic Note: Placed in synonymy with Acropora horrida by Wallace, Done and Muir (2012). However, these species are readily separated in both field and collections and, as illustrated, have only gross growth form in common.
Taxonomic References: Veron (1990a); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Nishihira and Veron (1995);
