Acropora granulosa
Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860
Description: Colonies are semi-circular horizontal plates, usually less than one metre across. Plates are composed of regularly spaced horizontal branches with short inclined branchlets composed mostly of one or more axial and incipient axial corallites. Radial corallites are small and pocket-like.
Color: Usually uniform cream, grey or pale blue (which may photograph purple), but may be other colours.
Habitat: Most reef environments, especially reef slopes protected from wave action.
Abundance: Common.
Similar Species: Acropora caroliniana, which has larger, usually more tapered axial and incipient axial corallites.
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). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A large plate. Flores Sea, Indonesia Photograph: Jim Maragos
Plate edge with elongate radial corallites. Apo Island, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Plate edge with short compacted radial corallites. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Flores, Indonesia Photograph: Roger Steene
A common colour. Bolinao, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Axial and radial corallites.