Acropora nasuta

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Acropora nasuta
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Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora
Species:
A. nasuta
Binomial name
Acropora nasuta
(Dana, 1846) [2]
Synonyms [2]
  • Acropora diomedeae Vaughan, 1906
  • Madrepora canaliculata Klunzinger, 1879
  • Madrepora effusa Dana, 1846
  • Madrepora nasuta Dana, 1846

Acropora nasuta is a species of branching stony coral in the family Acroporidae. It is native to the western and central Indo-Pacific where it is found in shallow reef habitats. Like other corals of the genus Acropora , it is susceptible to coral bleaching and coral diseases and the IUCN has listed it as being "Near Threatened".

Contents

Description

Acropora nasuta is a small colonial coral that grows in clumps which tend to develop flat tops. The branches are tapering and up to 12 mm (0.5 in) wide. The radial corallites usually form neat rows, sometimes being long and slender and sometimes appressed. The axial corallites may be larger or the same size as the radial corallites. The colour of this coral is creamy-white or pale brown and the branch tips are sometimes bluish. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Acropora nasuta is a common species and is found in the western and central Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Africa to India, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Australia. This coral grows in shallow water, between three and fifteen metres (ten and fifty feet) deep, mostly on upper reef slopes and reef edges. [1]

Ecology

Acropora nasuta is a zooxanthellate coral. This means that it has symbiotic dinoflagellate algae living within its tissues and these employ photosynthesis to make complex carbohydrates from which the coral benefits. Besides this, the coral gets nourishment from the polyps which project from the corallites at night and extend their tentacles to feed on plankton. There are usually barnacles of several species growing on the branches of the coral and certain species of small fish, crabs and shrimps live permanently among the branches. [3] The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) preferentially feeds on Acropora species corals. [1]

Status

The main threat affecting Acropora nasuta is the destruction of the coral reefs where it lives. Although relatively common, it is a shallow water species and susceptible to bleaching and coral diseases. It is also collected for the reef aquarium trade. Corals in general are expected to be impacted by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. For these reasons, the IUCN has listed Acropora nasuta as being "Near Threatened". [1]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Acropora abrotanoides</i> Species of coral

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<i>Acropora acuminata</i> Species of coral

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<i>Acropora hyacinthus</i> Species of coral

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<i>Acropora digitifera</i> Species of coral

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<i>Acropora muricata</i> Species of coral

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Acropora teres is a species of acroporid coral found in the central Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic western Pacific Ocean. It is found in tropical shallow reefs on slopes and in lagoons, at depths of between 2 and 20 metres. The taxonomic status of this species is uncertain. It was described as Madrepora teres by Verrill in 1866.

<i>Acropora valida</i> Species of coral

Acropora valida is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwestern, northwestern and northern Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea, the oceanic western, central and far eastern Pacific Ocean, the northwestern Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs in a variety of reef habitats, at depths of 1 to 15 metres.

<i>Acropora vaughani</i> Species of coral

Acropora vaughani is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic western and central Pacific Ocean. It is also found in Madagascar. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs around fringing reefs in turbid water, at depths of between 3 and 20 metres. It was described by J. W. Wells in 1954.

Acropora abrolhosensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by John Veron in 1985. Found in sheltered lagoons and shallow reefs, it is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. The population of the species is decreasing, and most specimens are found in Western Australia, but occurs in many other areas. It is also listed under CITES Appendix II.

Acropora awi is a species of acroporid coral that was described by Wallace and Wolstenholme in 1998. Found in fringing reefs, the slopes of shallow reefs, and sandy slopes, it occurs in a marine environment. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population, and is easily damaged. It can be found over a large area but is not abundant.

Acropora batunai is a species of acroporid coral that was described by Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in protected, shallow reefs, it occurs in a marine environment at depths of up to 44 m (144 ft). The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population, and is extremely fragile. It can be found over a large area but, overall, is not common.

Acropora dendrum is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Bassett-Smith in 1890. Found in tropical, shallow reefs in areas of powerful waves at depths of 5 to 20 m, it is threatened by disease. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora kimbeensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. Carden Wallace in 1999. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs usually at depths of 3 to 12 m, but can occur as low as 15 m (49 ft). It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common and found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora kirstyae is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Jen Veron and C. C. Wallace in 1984. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered areas usually at depths of 10 to 25 m, and also occurs in sheltered lagoons. It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common and found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora lokani is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs and sheltered lagoons, it occurs at depths between 8 and 25 m. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and is believed to have a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, including in three regions of Indonedia, and is listed under CITES Appendix II.

Acropora papillare is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Latypov in 1992. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in areas exposed to waves, it occurs at depths of between 1 and 5 m. It is classed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it has a decreasing population. It is uncommon but found over a large area, including in three regions of Indonesia, and is classified under CITES Appendix II.

Acropora rudis is a species of acroporid coral found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is an uncommon species and is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species because it is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching, coral diseases, damage by the crown-of-thorns starfish and destruction of its coral reef habitat.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Richards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G.; Reboton, C. (2014). "Acropora nasuta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T133239A54219368. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133239A54219368.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Hoeksema, Bert (2013). "Acropora nasuta (Dana, 1846)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  3. Wallace, Carden (1999). Staghorn Corals of the World: A Revision of the Genus Acropora. Csiro Publishing. ISBN   0643102817.