Anacropora matthai

Anacropora matthai is a species of briar coral in the family Acroporidae.[1] This species is found in the central Indo-Pacific, in waters off the Solomons, Japan, East China Sea, Eastern Australia, Fiji, Palau, and Pohnpei, in shallow tropical reef environments, in depths from 8 to 20 meters.[2] The species is named after George Matthai.

Anacropora matthai
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Subclass:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Acroporidae
Genus:	Anacropora
Species:	A. matthai
Binomial name
Anacropora matthai Pillai, 1973

Description

The branches of A. matthai are 5 millimetres thick, and are straight, with brown and pale brown coloring.[3]

Conservation

Its range occurs in one protected marine area, but its population is still in decline, listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Its threats include residential and commercial development, shipping lanes, aquatic resources being harvested, invasive species, diseases, pollution, and climate change.[4]

References

1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Anacropora matthai Pillai, 1973". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
2. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
3. "Corals of the World". www.coralsoftheworld.org. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
4. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-03-30.