Acropora arabensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acropora arabensis |
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Acropora arabensis is a type of coral that lives in the Indian Ocean. Scientists Gregor Hodgson and Kent Carpenter first described it in 1995. This coral is often found in shallow parts of reefs and in calm lagoons. It usually grows about 3 to 5 meters deep.
Like other corals in the Acropora family, it can be harmed by coral bleaching. This happens when corals lose their color and become sick. Experts say Acropora arabensis is "Near Threatened." This means its numbers are going down, and it might become endangered soon.
What Does Acropora arabensis Look Like?
Acropora arabensis has a special shape. Its skeleton looks like fingers or branches that don't split very often. These branches get thinner towards their ends.
On the surface of the coral, you can see small cup-like structures called corallites. Some corallites are dome-shaped and grow straight up. Others are thicker and lie flat against the branch. These corallites form two rings. The corallites get smaller as you move towards the tips of the branches.
In deeper, safer parts of the reef, this coral might have more tube-shaped corallites. Inside the corallites, there are thin walls called septa. These septa are well-formed and reach almost to the center of each corallite.
Where Does Acropora arabensis Live?
So far, Acropora arabensis has only been found in a few places. It lives naturally off the coast of Kuwait in the Persian Gulf. This is where scientists first discovered it.
Other corals of this species have also been found in the southern Red Sea. You can also find them off the northern coast of Madagascar.
How to Identify Acropora arabensis
Acropora arabensis is usually pale brown or grey in color. It can look similar to other corals, but there are ways to tell them apart.
- Acropora ocellata looks similar but has longer branches. Its corallites are also more stretched out.
- Acropora clathrata is different because Acropora arabensis has a tree-like shape. Its corallites are also pressed flat against the branches and are spread out evenly.
