Acropora austera
Dana, 1846
Description: Colonies are mostly arborescent, often with highly fused main branches. Main branches often curve away from each other and typically taper. Sub-branches are numerous, irregular in size and also taper. Axial corallites are thick walled but have small openings. Radial corallites are sometimes arranged in rows, are irregular in size, the larger projecting outwards with wide square-shaped openings.
Color: Many colours, most commonly blue (which may photograph pink) or cream. Axial corallites are frequently yellow.
Habitat: Upper reef slopes, especially where exposed to turbulence.
Abundance: Usually uncommon.
Similar Species: Acropora austera does not closely resemble any other species but its wide range of growth-forms sometimes makes it difficult to identify. See A. florida, A. wallaceae and A. lovelli.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
An open branching colony. Ryukyu Islands, Japan Photograph: Charlie Veron
The common appearance of tapered, slightly diverging, branches. Ryukyu Islands, Japan Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Calamian Islands, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Surface detail of branches of a colony in a protected environment. Bolinao, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Radial corallites.