Acropora valida

(Dana, 1846)

Vernacular names
English : Staghorn coral
French : Acropora valida

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

Identification
This species forms bush-like colonies with branches being compact clumps of corallites with one single radial corallite in the middle. Corallites are swollen, with very small opening. Coloration yellow or cream with pink branch tips.

Range and habitat
This species has a very large range going from Red Sea and East Africa to Pacific Islands and eastern Pacific, on Colombian and Ecuadorian coasts. Lives in shallow tropical reefs, rocky walls, top of submerged reefs, down to 15 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : Acropora corals are very sensitive to changes in their environment and the effects of global warming and water pollution are enough to kill entire colonies. The species is still locally common but threatened by habitat degradation.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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