Acropora grandis

(Brook, 1892)

Vernacular names
English : Giant staghorn coral
French : Corail ramure géant

Classification
Class : Anthozoa
Order : Scleractinia
Family : Acroporidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Colonies can grow into large staghorn-shaped clumps up to 7 meters across. Branches are very thick but tips can be easily broken. Polyps near tips are tubular. Color usually dark reddish-brown but also blue or green with pale branch tips.

Range and habitat
The species lives in the Indo-Pacific area, from Red Sea and East Africa, to North Japan, South Australia and east to Pacific Islands. Found in all kinds of reef environments, upper reef slopes and lagoons, to 25 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a large range but is probably at least locally threatened by coral reef destruction due to climate change and pollution.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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