Acropora robusta

Acropora robusta is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs, mainly along margins that are exposed to the action of strong waves, and can be found at depths from 1 to 8 metres (3 ft 3 in to 26 ft 3 in). It was described by Dana in 1846.

Acropora robusta
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Acroporidae
Genus:	Acropora
Species:	A. robusta
Binomial name
Acropora robusta (Dana, 1846)
Synonyms
List Acropora conigera (Dana, 1846) Acropora cuspidata (Dana, 1846) Acropora decipiens (Brook, 1892) Acropora nobilis (Dana, 1846) Acropora pacifica (Brook, 1891) Acropora paxilligera (Dana, 1846) Acropora pinguis Wells, 1950 Acropora ponderosa Nemenzo, 1967 Acropora smithi (Brook, 1893) Heteropora regalis Ehrenberg, 1834 Madrepora ambigua Brook, 1892 Madrepora brooki Bernard, 1900 Madrepora canalis Quelch, 1886 Madrepora conigera Dana, 1846 Madrepora cuspidata Dana, 1846 Madrepora cyclopea Dana, 1846 Madrepora decipiens Brook, 1892 Madrepora nobilis Dana, 1846 Madrepora pacifica Brook, 1891 Madrepora paxilligera Dana, 1846 Madrepora robusta Dana, 1846 Madrepora smithi Brook, 1893

Description

It occurs in irregular colonies consisting of thick branches towards the centre, but its outer branches are thinner. Its rasp-like radial corallites can be of a variety of diameters and shapes. The species pink- or yellow-brown, cream, or bright green with branches having pinkish ends.[2]

Distribution

It is classed as a least concern species on the IUCN Red List, but it is believed that its population is decreasing, and it is listed under Appendix II of CITES. Figures of its population are unknown, but is likely to be threatened by the global reduction of coral reefs, the increase of temperature causing coral bleaching, climate change, human activity, the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) and disease.[1] It occurs in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean. It is found at depths between 1 and 8 metres (3 ft 3 in and 26 ft 3 in) in tropical shallow reefs mostly along margins exposed to the actions of strong waves.[1]

Taxonomy

It was described as Madrepora robusta in 1846 by Dana.[3]

References

1. Richards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G. & Reboton, C. (2014). "Acropora robusta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T133248A54222944. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133248A54222944.en.
2. "Acropora robusta". Australian Institute of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
3. "Acropora robusta". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 15 August 2015.