Acropora, Oken, 1815

Sola, Erwan, Silva, Isabel Marques da & Glassom, David, 2015, An annotated and illustrated checklist of species of the coral genus Acropora (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) from Vamizi Island, Mozambique, African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 807-807 : 840

Acropora valida (Dana, 1846)

Fig. 31

Colony growth form: Small corymbose or caespitose, giving well-pruned cushion-shaped colonies growing isolated or in moderate single-species stands.

Axial corallites: Outer diameter 1.8–2.9 mm; inner diameter 0.7–1.3 mm; prominent, with wide round opening; first-cycle septa are well developed and have a smooth edge; secondary septa are present but reduced.

Radial corallites: Tubular-appressed or slightly nariform, opening is round; usually similar in size and touching; primary septa are small and dentate, and secondary cycle can be present or not.

Coenosteum: Reticulate with densely arranged lines of spinules, throughout; may resemble costae on radial corallites.

Remarks: This species is known for its considerable growth-form plasticity ( Veron & Wallace 1984). The present identification relies mainly on the characteristic tubular-appressed radial corallites (slightly swollen), their level of crowding on branches, and the structure of the coenosteum, which is consistent with descriptions in the available literature.

Figures

Fig.31. AcroporavalidaSpecimen number:VAM62.(A)live colony;(B)axial corallite;(C) branchfragment; (D) radial corallites; (E) coenosteum between corallites.