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
