Acropora digitifera facts for kids
Acropora digitifera is a type of coral that lives in the ocean. It's part of a big family of corals called Acroporidae. You can find this coral in warm, shallow waters around the world, like the Red Sea and near Australia. It was first described by a scientist named James Dwight Dana in 1846.
Quick facts for kids Acropora digitifera |
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| Acropora digitifera in Maldives. | |
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About the Acropora digitifera Coral
What This Coral Looks Like
This coral grows in groups called colonies. These colonies can be flat or stand upright. They can grow to be about 1 meter (3 feet) wide.
Its thin branches have long, tube-shaped parts called axial corallites. The smaller, side parts are called radial corallites. They can be tube-shaped or look like small pockets.
Acropora digitifera is known as a "digitate" coral. This means it has finger-like branches. The tips of these branches are often blue. The coral itself is usually red-brown. Its main corallites can be white or blue.
It looks a bit like Acropora humilis but is smaller. It also shares some features with Acropora filiformis.
Where Acropora digitifera Lives
You can find Acropora digitifera in many warm ocean areas. This includes the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. It also lives near Australia, Southeast Asia, and Japan. You can find it in the central Indo-Pacific and the west Pacific Ocean. It is also found in the East China Sea and the Pitcairn Islands.
This coral prefers shallow parts of tropical reefs. It lives in depths from 0 to 12 meters (0 to 39 feet).
Protecting Acropora digitifera
Scientists believe the number of Acropora digitifera corals is going down. Because of this, it is listed as a "near threatened" species. This listing is on the IUCN Red List, which tracks endangered plants and animals. It is also protected under Appendix II of CITES.
Many things threaten this coral. These include the overall loss of coral reefs worldwide. Rising ocean temperatures can cause "coral bleaching," which harms corals. Climate change and human activities also pose risks. The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) eats coral and can cause damage. Diseases can also affect the coral's health.
How Acropora digitifera Was Named
This coral was first given its scientific name in 1846. It was named Madrepora digitifera by a scientist named Dana. Later, its name was changed to Acropora digitifera.
Gallery
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Acropora digitifera in Réunion island
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In Maldives
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Close-up on the corallites.
