Acropora anthocercis
Brook, 1893
Description: Colonies are thick corymbose to encrusting plates. Branchlets are short and thick and may be almost encrusting where colonies are exposed to strong wave action. There are usually several axial or incipient axial corallites per branchlet. Radial corallites are appressed, with thick flaring walls and are arranged in a rosette.
Color: Colonies are a mixture of colours, blue, mauve, purple and grey being the most common.
Habitat: Upper reef slopes exposed to strong wave action.
Abundance: Sometimes common.
Similar Species: Acropora anthocercis exposed to strong wave action is distinctive; colonies in more protected environments are more like other species including A. hyacinthus, which has smaller and less appressed radial corallites. Acropora willisae also has multiple axial corallites per branchlet but has tubular radial corallites not in a rosette. See also A. appressa, A. desalwii and A. parapharaonis.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guides:Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
In a habitat exposed to strong wave action branchlets are thick and often have more than one axial corallite. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell
In a habitat sheltered from strong wave action. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Ed Lovell
On an upper reef slope. Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Axial and radial corallites.
Corallite detail. Houtman Abrolhos Islands, south-west Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron