Acropora acuminata
Verrill, 1864
Records from the central Pacific and Red Sea are doubtful.
Description: Colonies are composed of fused horizontal branches, forming small tables. Branchesusually have upturned ends which taper to a point. Corallites on horizontal branches are mostly immersed; those on upright branches are usually of two sizes, the larger being tubular, with sharp edges. Skeletons have a permanent dark color.
Color: Usually bright or pale blue or brown
Habitat: Turbid or clear water on upper or lower reef slopes.
Abundance: Uncommon
Similar Species: Acropora hoeksemai, which forms colonies of similar shape but has larger branches and less irregular corallites. See also A. abrotanoides, which has larger branches and rasp-like radial corallites and A. valenciennesi, which has large proximal branches.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A large colony on a shallow reef flat. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell
An irregularly branching colony. Flinders Reef, Coral Sea Photograph: Charlie Veron
A colony of compact branches. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell
Skeletal detail. Radial corallites.
Surface detail of branches. Willis Island, Coral Sea Photograph: Ed Lovell