Acropora, Oken, 1815

Sola, Erwan, Silva, Isabel Marques da & Glassom, David, 2015, An annotated and illustrated checklist of species of the coral genus Acropora (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) from Vamizi Island, Mozambique, African Invertebrates 56 (3), pp. 807-807 : 813-814

Acropora austera (Dana, 1846)

Fig. 4

Colony growth form: Irregularly arborescent, sometimes slightly hispidose; main branches taper and may be very thick, they give-off secondary branches at irregular intervals.

Axial corallites: Outer diameter 2.6–3.3 mm; inner diameter 0.8–0.9 mm; large and thick-walled with small opening; first and second septal cycles are present and well developed.

Radial corallites: Size and shape are variable; usually tubular to rounded tubular or appressed. Primary septa are present, secondary septa are generally absent or incomplete, but well developed in some colonies; radial corallites are numerous and may be arranged in rows or not.

Coenosteum: Densely reticulate with rows of elaborated spinules on and between corallites.

Figures

Fig.4.Acropora austera.Specimen number:(A, B, E) VAM39;(C, D)VAM13.(A) live colony; (B) branch detail; (C) portion of colony; (D) radial corallites and (E) axial corallite; (F) coenosteum between corallites.