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 : 840

Acropora cf. vermiculata ( Nemenzo, 1967)

Fig. 32

Colony growth form: Corymbose, caespitose or cushion-shaped and finely structured, frequent branchlet formation on main branches; colonies occur isolated or in extensive single-species stands.

Axial corallites: Outer diameter 2.3 mm; inner diameter 0.9 mm; slightly elongate with primary septa occupying most of calyx diameter; second cycle is incomplete, with just a few points.

Radial corallites: Similar in size and shape; labellate, with poorly developed inner wall and outer wall extending upward; form rosette around axial corallite; one directive septum may be visible.

Coenosteum: Costate with some synapticules visible, both on and between radial corallites.

Remarks: A. vermiculata has been mentioned as a synonym of Acropora sarmentosa, but the latter has tubular appressed radial corallites and a very reticulate coenosteum ( Wallace 1999), while the specimens found at Vamizi clearly have labellate radial corallites, with straight lip, with a neatly costate coenosteum. The radials are similar to those of A. selago or A. tenuis, but these two species have more delicate branches and usually well-defined colonies. Live colonies were closely consistent with Veron’s (2000) A. vermiculata from Tanzania and were also found in extensive single-species stands, justifying the present identification.

Figures

Fig.32. Acropora cf. vermiculata.Specimen number:VAM70.(A) live colony; (B) branch detail;(C) radial corallites; (D) axial corallite; (E) coenosteum between corallites.