Characters: May form dome-shaped colonies over 3 metres across, composed of isolated subcolonies which are shaped like upturned hands. Colonies (or subcolonies) are digitate, with thick branches tapering to a small axial corallite. Colonies exposed to strong wave action have pyramid-shaped branchlets. Radial corallites are uniform in size and usually arranged in rows.
Colour: Blue (which may photograph purple) or cream, usually with pale branch tips of contrasting colours.
Similar Species: Acropora humilis, A. globiceps, A. retusa and A. gemmifera.
Habitat: Upper reef slopes.
Abundance: Sometimes common in eastern Australia, usually uncommon elsewhere.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Wallace (1984); Wallace (1999); Veron (2000a); Wallace, Done and Muir (2012);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Pillay, Terashima, Venkatasami et al. (2002); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
