Acropora microphthalma
{{Short description|Species of coral}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Acropora microphthalma.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Acropora microphthalma
| authority = (Verrill, 1859) {{cite WoRMS |author =Hoeksema, Bert |year=2015 |title=Acropora microphthalma (Verrill, 1869) |id=207046 |accessdate=2015-08-15|db=}}
| synonyms = {{Specieslist
|Acropora inermis| (Brook, 1891)
|Madrepora microphthalma| Verrill, 1869
}}
}}
Acropora microphthalma is a species of acroporid coral found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean. It is also found in the Line Islands. It occurs in shallow tropical reefs on upper reef slopes, in turbid water and in sandy lagoons. It can be found from depths of 5–25 m.
Description
Biology
Acropora microphthalma is a zooxanthellate species of coral. It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbiotic dinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps.{{cite book |title=Invertebrate Zoology |edition=7th |last1=Ruppert |first1=Edward E. |last2=Fox |first2=Richard, S. |last3=Barnes |first3=Robert D. |year=2004 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-81-315-0104-7 |page=122 }}
Status
This coral is a common species and no species-specific threats have been identified. The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats; increasing damage from extreme weather events, rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being "near threatened". All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II.