Acropora humilis (Dana, 1846)

van der Meij, Sancia E. T. & Visser, Rémon R., 2011, The Acropora Humilis Group (Scleractinia) Of The Snellius Expedition (1929 - 30), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59 (1), pp. 9-17 : 11

Acropora humilis (Dana, 1846)

( Fig. 2a–b )

Madrepora humilis – Dana, 1846 p. 483, pl. 31 fig. 4; pl. 41 fig. 4.

Acropora humilis – Moll, 1983: 29; Veron and Wallace, 1984: 166; Veron, 1986: 136; Best et al., 1989: 109; Veron, 2000: 318–319.

Acropora (Acropora) humilis – Wallace and Dai, 1997: 292; Wallace and Wolstenholme, 1998: 210; Wallace, 1999: 116–118.

Material examined. – Indonesia, Tanimbar Isl., Wotap ( RMNH Coel.39598); Tanahjampea , N of Flores (10 specimens, RMNH Coel.39588–39597); Tukangbesi Isl. , Binongko ( RMNH Coel.39585); Tusa Isl. near Obilatu , N of Obi Major ( RMNH Coel.39892); Nenusa Isl. , Karatung ( RMNH Coel.39586); Kau Bay , Akeselaka ( RMNH Coel.39893); Talaud Isl. , Beo , Karakelong ( RMNH Coel.39584); Papua, Biak , Sorido , W of Kampung, reef at ‘marine kazerne’ [marine barracks], Feb. 1955, coll. D. Brongersma ( RMNH Coel.39900) ; Philippines, Sulu Isl., Sipangkot near Sibutu ( RMNH Coel.39587) .

Short description. – Colony digitate to corymbose; branches tapering or slightly terete, 8–24 mm in diameter and up to 95 mm long; growth determinate. Axial corallite outer diameter 3.0–7.0 mm; radial corallites evenly distributed, with some rows visible, tubular with round to dimidiate openings and thickened walls.

Biogeography. – This common species is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific ( Wallace, 1999). Wallace & Wolstenholme (1998) show an overall distribution in Indonesia, with most records east of Sulawesi. The Snellius I expedition collected specimens of A. humilis at eight sites. The NCB Naturalis coral collection also contains a specimen of A. humilis , collected by Dr Brongersma, from Sorido (Biak, Papua).

Figures

Fig. 2a-h. A. humilis: a, complete coral (RMNH Coel.39585), b, branch (RMNH Coel.39591); A. gemmifera: c, complete coral (RMNH Coel.39581), d, branch (RMNH Coel.39578); A. monticulosa: e, complete coral, f, close-up (both RMNH Coel.39599); A. samoensis: g, complete coral (RMNH Coel.39612), h, close-up (RMNH Coel.39622). Scale bars 2 cm (a-c, e, g-h), 1.5 cm for d, f.