Acropora stoddarti
Pillai and Scheer, 1976
Description: Colonies consist of fused, flattened basal branches, forming extensive horizontal plates commonly over 2 metres across. The oldest parts of colonies are frequently fused into a solid plate. Corallites are widely spaced and mostly immersed, becoming nariform and sharp edged towards branch tips.
Color: Brown or green with pale margins.
Habitat: Reef slopes.
Abundance: Common at the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, south-western Australia, uncommon elsewhere.
Similar Species: Acropora solitaryensis and A. divaricata, which form colonies that are less flat and have upright branchlets.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Pillai and Scheer (1976). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
Large colonies of highly dissected plates. Houtman Abrolhos Islands, south-west Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Seychelles Photograph: Charlie Veron
A single large colony. Seychelles Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Radial corallites on a flat branch.
Corallite detail. Houtman Abrolhos Islands, south-west Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron