Acropora formosa
Dana, 1846
Description: Colonies are arborescent, with cylindrical branches. They usually form thickets and may form single species stands over 10 metres across. In shallow water branches are short and compact, while in deeper water colonies have more open branches. Axial corallites are exsert. Radial corallites are tubular. They may be similar or varied in size, and uniformly or irregularly distributed.
Color: Usually cream, brown or blue, generally with pale branch ends.
Habitat: Reef slopes and lagoons.
Abundance: Common and frequently a dominant species.
Similar Species: Acropora teres, A. abrolhosensis and A. copiosa. See also A. nobilis, which has rasp-like radial corallites and A. grandis. Acropora formosa, A. nobilis and A. grandis are commonly found together.
Taxonomic note: This species is divisible into several smaller semi-distinct taxonomic units. Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999, as A. muricata) (see p176 above for discussion of this name). Identification guides: Randall and Myers (1983), Veron (1986), Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A thicket of compact branches. Seychelles Photograph: Charlie Veron
Open branches. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Mary Stafford-Smith
An open branched colony typical of mid-slope habitats. Calamian Islands, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Axial and radial corallites.
Corallite detail. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron