Anacropora

Anacropora is a genus of stony corals in the Acroporidae family. They are sometimes called briar corals and there are seven known species.

Anacropora
Illustration of Anacropora gracilis and Anacropora solida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Anacropora
Ridley, 1884
Species
see text

Description

Members of this genus are generally fragile corals with branches less than ten centimetres long which form small colonies. The branches are either spreading or may be clustered and are sometimes fused together. The calices are rounded and up to one millimetre in diameter. The area between the calices is porous with numerous small tubercles. There are no axial corallites and the main septa number six with a few more subsidiary ones.[1] The small radial corallites have an ‘empty’ appearance similar to Montipora. The delicate tentacles can often be seen extended during the day.[2]

Distribution

Members of this genus occur in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific being found mostly in muddy waters. They are generally uncommon and are not a reef species.[1]

Species

References
  1. "Scleractinian Coral Family, Acroporidae". biophysics.sbg.ac.at. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  2. Coral hub: Anacropora
  3. "Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 3 October 2019.


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