Acropora tortuosa

Dana, 1846


Central Pacific records are doubtfully this species.

Description: Colonies consist of prostrate, tapered branches which have many branchlets and incipient axial corallites. Corallites are immersed to long and tubular, giving branches a rough, irregular appearance. Tentacles are not extended during the day.
Color: Deep blue (which may photograph mauve) or brown.
Habitat: Lagoons.
Abundance: Common at Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs of south-east Australia, rare elsewhere.
Similar Species: Acropora horrida, which has smaller, more compact corallites and has tentacles extended during the day.

Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guide: Veron (1986).

Forming a thicket. Elizabeth Reef, south-east Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell


Skeletal detail. Radial corallites.


Corallite detail. Elizabeth Reef, south-east Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell
Based on Australian Institute of Marine Science data