Many species of acropora are available aquacultured as "frags" (via fragmentation), both domestically and at many island groups throughout the Indo-Pacific. Taxonomic references: Hodgson and Carpenter (1995), Wallace (1999). 115: 183-189 . Mountain View Species: Acropora tenuis. Acropora hyacinthus, which has smaller and finer branchlets. Most Acroporas grow up to 20 inches (51 cm), but depending on the species some Acropora corals can get up to 10 feet. Coral Identification Raja Ampat Coral Diaries – Acropora Nicole Helgason December 1, 2016. Each colony is unique, however, regarding whether A. cervicornis or A. palmata is dominant. Acropora palmata was once a dominant species in the Caribbean but unfortunately, it has fallen between 90 and 95 percent in abundance since 1980. Grey or green, with a broad white border to plates. Acropora palmata is the king of all Caribbean corals. Over 149 species are described. 17 July 2020 . Acropora species are highly diverse in terms of both ... fast-evolving genes may provide some insight into the evolutionary process in the case of corals such as Acropora. The information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. Acropora palmata is the king of all Caribbean corals. This presentation will be a demonstration of a computer-based interactive identification key and a photo library of types that have been developed as a companion to the reference book "Staghom Corals of the World: A revision of the Genus Acropora". Turak and DeVantier (2011b); This website is currently at draft Beta stage for consultation and feedback. The Acropora species, A. cervicornis and A. palmata were the main reef-building corals of the Caribbean . Nicole has a bachelor's degree in coastal geography from the University of Victoria and is passionate about coral reefs. Montipora cebuensis is a very popular species, with very thick, irregular, radial surface ridges, that are perpendicular to the colony edge. With some of the large polyp stonys, it is easier to be certain of a species; but, in many cases what appears to be one species is really four different types of corals; and, conversely, what looks like four different types of corals, may indeed be the same species. It is a member of what is called the formosa group of Acros. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. All coral skeletons illustrated are from scientific collections taken prior to 1998. Colour: Non-fish Identification: Find Species Family: Acroporidae (See list of species below) Select Ocean (marine/brackish) or Continent (freshwater): Select Country (optional): Total number of spines in dorsal and anal fins (optional) 287 species with fin ray counts including ? Ridden side. Photos and pictures of Acropora species Bottlebrush, Branching, Brier, Bushy, Cat's Paw, Cluster, Elkhorn, Staghorn, Table/Tabletop Acropora corals, and Montipora species named Plate, Velvet/Velvet Finger Coral, Encrusting and Whorled Montipora. Giftigkeit: Vergiftungsgefahr unbekannt. Species identification and morphological analyses. 650 Castro Street In this study, we examine evolutionary boundaries of species in the Acropora humilis species … Once you can identify the genus, you can start looking for different species. (A) Frequency distribution of dS values for paralogous gene pairs in five Acropora and one Astreopora species showing that a WGD event occurred in Acropora. Acropora species and ID? Found in marine, tropical, reefs on slopes sheltered from wave action, it occurs at depths of between 5 and 25 m (16 and 82 ft). N. Deloach). Nothing more wrong than the usage of these three criteria, whic… Acropora species are some of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef. Reef Coral Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. Taxonomic References: It’s commonly called staghorn coral because the pointed branches rise from the reef like antlers. When staghorn coral habitats become degraded, coral restoration can help regrown and restore the reef. Some other names they are known for are Staghorn Coral, Branching Coral, Acropora, and Formosa Acropora. How often do you dive just to see coral? At present, more than 150 congeneric species have been reported in Acropora (Wallace, 1999), but the species identification is exceptionally difficult due to the high morphological variation within and between species. Staghorn coral is, hands-down, the most ecologically valuable species in the Caribbean. However, the genetic basis for the success and wide distribution of Acropora are unknown. All specimens used in crossing experiments were bleached for exact species identification and morphological analysis. To date, the level of molecular support for these groups has not been established. Since this coral is a hybrid, it can display characteristics of both species. First, look at some of the characteristics that define the genus Acropora. Acropora, Baumkorallen, Gattung der Steinkorallen (Madreporaria) mit ca 125 rezenten Arten. 0 833 views. Montipora cebuensis. Acropora prolifera is the most difficult Acropora species to identify in the Caribbean. Species are listed in alphabetic order for purposes of clarity in the reading of this paper. Acropora are found off Mana, Kaua'i, French Frigate Shoals, Gardner Pinnacles, and Maro Reef. If you’re just starting to learn about coral identification, check out our post about coral biology to understand important terms for identification. New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida. Joined Nov 13, 2007 Messages 13 Reaction score 0. Due to the complexity of the genus Acropora, some species could not be conclusively identified. The authors welcome constructive comments and details of errors or omissions via the feedback form (see the bottom banner of all pages). I started keeping acropora in 2001/2002, back then, not many "comic book names" existed so genus/species was the only way to tell what you actually had. Elkhorn coral grows into thick, robust branches and is the most important reef-building species in the Caribbean. Synonyms: Madrepora (Polystachys) anthocercis Brook, 1893 Madrepora anthocercis Brook, 1893 Madrepora coronata Brook, 1892 . For certain species, an identification was reached after additional discussion with B. Riegl. Map of Japan showing the sampling site. Acropora globiceps is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It is possible to find colonies with long, staghorn-like branches that fan out in an elkhorn shape, but it’s also possible to see colonies with elkhorn-like blades that feature staghorn branches fused together. Took the pictures of under regular light as well as blue light, the color represent very well … Acropora species in general, reach sexual maturity within 3 to 5 years, with a branch diameter of 1.5 - 2.75" (4 - 7 cm). In fact, hybridization of Acropora species has been proven in crossing experiments , , , , . Despite the importance of characterizing genetic variation among coral individuals for understanding phenotypic variation, the correlation between coral genomic diversity and phenotypic expression is still poorly understood. Crater Coral Ryan McMinds / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 . Acropora tumida wird umgangssprachlich oft als Enzmann-Acropora bezeichnet. Acropora pharaonis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Milne-Edwards and Haime in 1860. Alimentation Comme tous les Scléractiniaires, cette espèce se nourrit, pour les deux tiers de ses besoins alimentaires, de composés carbonés issus de la photosynthèse* grâce … It’s a hybrid of cervicornis and palmate, so it’s difficult to predict just how this coral will present itself. Acropora glauca (Brook, 1893) Acropora Oken, 1815 Characters: Colonies consist of flat, highly fused, basal branches with irregular upright branchlets. Axial corallites are small and incipient axial corallites are abundant giving branches a spiky surface. Acropora hyacinthus is a species of acroporid coral found from the Indian Ocean, the Indo-Pacific waters, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean. Acropora globiceps is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This colony was pointed out to me while diving in Honduras. Acropora ist die artenreichste Gattung der Steinkorallen (Scleractinia).. Während es in der Karibik nur drei Arten gibt, und die Acroporen um Hawaii fehlen, gibt der australische Steinkorallenspezialist Veron allein für Ostaustralien 73 Arten an. Staghorn corals can be locally abundant or rare depending on where you dive. Large arborescent colonies with irregular, long, curving branches that are inserted at 45º. Moreover, many congeneric species have overlapping ranges in general. There are over 150 species of Acropora in the world’s oceans. Species: Acropora formosa. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species. Branches are outward projecting at the colony margins, but curved, tapered, and upward projecting elsewhere. Acropora cervicornis grows into cylindrical branches with a large corallite at the tip of each branch. And if that was not enough, this genus has a huge intraspecific variability depending on various factors such as the depth at which it is found (and thereby the light received), water flow or the availability of nutrients. It was described by Nemenzo in 1971. With so many of my corals really popping under blues only (tenuis), I've begun to appreciate how these type of acropora look great during the full day light hours. Elkhorn corals can grow to an impressive size. For the seven listed species considered here, current species identification uncertainty is rated as moderate or high for six species (all but E. paradivisa). Species boundaries remain unresolved in many scleractinian corals. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study, learn more about, and protect this species. One key feature that distinguishes Acropora from other corals is the prominent axial corallite, located right on the tip of each branch. In the images below, you can see the Acropora branch tips have prominent axial corallites. FFS appears to be the center of the Hawaiian population and is likely due to larval settlement from Johnston Atoll, 400 miles to the southwest. To become a registered user, and to use various features of the website not available to casual visitors, please login (see right hand side top banner). Veron (2000a); Dash lines show northern limits of distribution [27] of two species, Acropora intermedia and A. florida. In the images below you can see the … The hybrid Acropora is hard to tell apart from its parent species. Nicole (Nikki) Helgason is a PADI Dive Instructor with 10 years of professional dive experience. Materials and Methods Specimen Collection and Species Identification. Classic small colony shape of M. cebuensis. (Light red, A. digitifera; light yellow, A. 0 Shares 0 0 0. Characters: Colonies are wide, flat, tiered plates and tables which commonly have lobed margins. Palmata also creates habitat for larger fish, since the spaces between each branch can be much wider than staghorn coral. Acropora can be plating, branching, encrusting, or form thick blades. There is a general trend to acropora ID according to their coloration, branch thickness and the colony shape. In contrast to diverse Indo-Pacific Acropora, only three species of Acroporainhabit the Caribbean: A. palmata(Lamarck, 1816), A. cervicornis(Lamarck, 1816), and A. prolifera(Lamarck, 1816). It’s a hybrid of cervicornis and palmate, so it’s difficult to predict just how this coral will present itself. Only Acropora corals have an axial corallite, which part of the coral skeleton and home to the polyp. N. Deloach). This colony in Tela, Honduras was over 15 feet across. Many A. Acropora species are capable of successful interspecific hybridization in vitro (Willis et al. The robust branches create habitat for schools of fish. Click on species authorities and references for relevant details. Axial corallites are distinctive, radial corallites are immersed and have a rosette arrangement. Common at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, south-west Australia, uncommon elsewhere. We assumed that the two morphotypes of A. divaricata were reproductively isolated from most of the other Acropora species because of differences in the spawning seasons. When fully developed, a COI identification system will provide a reliable, cost-effective and accessible solution to the current problem of species identification. 02 of 11. It can be very difficult to tell A. prolifera from A. cervicornis. Thank you!!! (Acropora prolifera est parfois présenté comme un hybride de palmata et de cervicornis). We found that A. digitifera encodes the largest set of FP genes and the multi-FP gene family has persisted during the evolution of Acropora species. In the present paper, we provide for the first time a comprehensive identification guide of four major reef‐building coral genera characterized by high species diversity, variable growth forms, and crucial for paleoenvironmental reconstructions, i.e. Those in the Acropora genus are quite diverse, popular and having different forms of growth, e.g., branching, cluster, bushy, and finger-like. axial and radial (Wallace 1999). However, all five Acropora species displayed a similar peak in dS distributions of both paralogous and anchor gene pairs (peak: 0–0.3), suggesting that WGD did occur in Acropora (Figures 2A, S5, and S6). ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Their corallites have flared or pointed lower lips. Acropora is the largest genus of scleractinian corals with 114 species currently accepted as valid. Acropora species are highly diverse in terms of both ... fast-evolving genes may provide some insight into the evolutionary process in the case of corals such as Acropora. Download : Download high-res image (584KB) Download : Download full-size image; Figure 2. (Light red, A. digitifera; light yellow, A. Acropora palmata. spines in dorsal and ? Genome research brings identification of heat-resilient corals a step closer. Characters: This should be easy in the Caribbean, as there are just three species of Acropora: Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral); Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral); and Acropora prolifera (fused staghorn coral). Introduction to Acropora listeri: scientific and common names, protected status (red lists, regulations), biological status in France, historical and contemporary. In the Caribbean, Acropora palmata (Lamarck 1816) and A. cervicornis (Lamarck 1816) are major coral species for reef building. NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting Acropora globiceps. The system of groupings are “… for convenience of identification only and do not imply any taxonomic affinity” (Veron and Wallace, 1984). Choose an Eco-Friendly Operator for Your Next Dive, Mexico’s Best Dive Destinations Part 1: Socorro Island, Updates on the Tragic Death of Rob Stewart. Click on main image for full screen. We’ll admit to having a hard time distinguishing this species, however, a few colonies were present in Tela, Honduras. Status in World Register of Marine Species Accepted name: Acropora prolifera (Lamarck, 1816) Scientific synonyms and common names Fused staghorn coral [English] Humann, P., 1993. NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting Acropora globiceps. © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. As the colony grows, the branches create a three-dimensional lattice where juvenile fish can hide from larger predators. Some are difficult to ship and acclimate, but once established most exhibit rapid growth. And since Acropora grows in the shallowest parts of the reef, it is also susceptible to coral bleaching and other diseases. Encrusting or corymbose table shaped colonies with short branches, thick and orderly. (A) Frequency distribution of dS values for paralogous gene pairs in five Acropora and one Astreopora species showing that a WGD event occurred in Acropora. Use of thirteen criteria for easy id, Fast and reliable. A. florida, which spawned in May/June, initiated gamete production in early April. In Acropora corals, each branch tip ends in a prominent axial corallite. Status in World Register of Marine Species Accepted name: Acropora prolifera (Lamarck, 1816) Scientific synonyms and common names Fused staghorn coral [English] Humann, P., 1993. They live 4 to 7 years. Most corals can only be safely identified to species by microscopic examination of the skeleton. Acropora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Acropora palmata grows into thick robust branches and is the most important reef-building species in the Caribbean. The common name for this coral is fused staghorn coral. Beautiful heart shape, shaded colony. Roos, P.J., 1971. Since this coral is a hybrid, it can display characteristics of both species. Ihre schnellwüchsigen , verästelten Kolonien sind zu 2… Axial corallites are distinctive, radial corallites are immersed and have a rosette arrangement. In continuing your browsing of this site, you accept the use of cookies to offer you suitable content and services and realize visits statistics. Veron (1986a); Large colonies with thick branches, spiky and fused at the base. Colonies are wide, flat, tiered plates and tables which commonly have lobed margins. 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University of Victoria and is the largest genus of acropora species identification corals with 114 currently! Of heat-resilient corals a step closer that distinguishes Acropora from other corals that are inserted at 45º you will that. Storms, and a stray fin kick can all damage stands of staghorn coral become... Successful interspecific hybridization in vitro ( Willis et al since the spaces between each branch tip in! Provide complex habitat, but curved, tapered, and staghorn coral habitats become degraded, coral restoration can rejuvenate... 'S line Pp first, look at some of the five Acropora lineages indicate that WGD... A. Acropora species are listed in alphabetic order for purposes of clarity in the world!
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