Acropora pharaonis
{{Short description|Species of coral}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Acropora pharaonis
| authority = (Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1860)
| synonyms = {{hidden begin|title = List}}
- Acropora pustulosa (Milne Edwards, 1960)
- Acropora scandens (Klunzinger, 1879)
- Madrepora arabica Milne Edwards, 1960
- Madrepora ehrenbergi Milne Edwards, 1960
- Madrepora microcyathus Klunzinger, 1879
- Madrepora pharaonis Milne Edwards, 1960
- Madrepora pustulosa Milne Edwards, 1960
- Madrepora scandens Klunzinger, 1879
- Madrepora spinulosa Klunzinger, 1879
- Madrepora subtilis Klunzinger, 1879
{{hidden end}}
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Acropora pharaonis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Milne-Edwards and Haime in 1860. Found in marine, tropical, reefs on slopes sheltered from wave action, it occurs at depths of between {{convert|5|and|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is classed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it has a decreasing population. It is common and found over a large area and is classified under CITES Appendix II.
Description
Acropora pharaonis is found in colonies of flat table-like structures, or simply in structures of clumped vertical or horizontal twisted branches.{{cite web|url=http://coral.aims.gov.au/factsheet.jsp?speciesCode=0671|title=Acropora pharaonis Fact Sheet. (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860)|publisher=Australian Institute of Marine Science|access-date=25 December 2014}} Colonies can have heights over {{convert|2|m}} and they are orderly and symmetrical. Branchlets are of lengths up to {{convert|250|mm}} with diameters of {{convert|10|to|25|mm}} and branchlets can reach {{convert|20|mm}} long and have {{convert|3|to|8|mm}} diameters.{{cite book|last=Wallace|first=Carden|title=Staghorn Corals of the World: A Revision of the Genus Acropora|date=1 September 1999|publisher=Csiro Publishing|isbn=978-0-643-10281-1|page=143}} Brown-grey in colour with branches having pale tips, the branches become thinner towards the ends and contain many small branchlets, which contain axial, incipient axial, and radial corallites. The axial corallites, located on the ends of the branchlets, are small with outer diameters of between 1.5 and 2.6mm and inner diameters of 0.6-1.5mm. Incipient axial corallites frequently occur on the branchlets, giving them a spikey surface. The radial corallites are located in close proximity and contain small nose-shaped openings and randomly placed spinules. This species looks similar to Acropora clathrata, Acropora parapharaonis, and Acropora plumosa. It is found in a marine environment on the slopes of tropical reefs at depths between {{convert|5|and|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Its mineralised tissue is composed of aragonite (calcium carbonate).{{cite web|url=http://eol.org/pages/1016113/data|title=Measurements and facts about Acropora pharaonis|publisher=Encyclopedia of Life|access-date=25 December 2014}}
Distribution
Acropora pharaonis is common and found over a large range; the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, New Caledonia, Fiji, American Samoa, and potentially in Cocos-Keeling. It is threatened by climate change, coral disease, rising sea temperatures leading to bleaching, reef destruction, being prey to Acanthaster planci, and human activity. It is rated as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, is listed CITES Appendix II, and could occur within Marine Protected Areas.
Taxonomy
It was first described by Haime and Henri Milne-Edwards in 1860 in genus Madrepora.{{cite web|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207059|title=Acropora pharaonis|publisher=World Register of Marine Species|access-date=26 December 2014}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Cnidarians of the Pacific Ocean
Category:Cnidarians of the Indian Ocean
Category:Marine fauna of Oceania
Category:Marine fauna of Southeast Asia
Category:Vulnerable fauna of Asia
Category:Vulnerable fauna of Oceania
Category:Corals described in 1860