Acropora valenciennesi
Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860
Description: Colonies may be over 2 metres across and composed of fused cylindrical horizontal branches with upturned pointed ends. Colonies usually have a side attachment. Branches are widely spaced, equidistant and uniform in shape. Radial corallites are uniform, tubular, and neatly aligned along branches.
Color: Mixtures of brown, blue and green with pale branch ends.
Habitat: Upper and lower reef slopes protected from wave action and inter-reef channels.
Abundance: Common.
Similar Species: Acropora hoeksemai. See also A. acuminata, which has smaller, more compact branches and smaller corallites.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
A large colony with tall upright branches. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
A large side-attached colony. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
Surface detail of branches. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Mary Stafford-Smith
Skeletal detail. Radial corallites.