Acropora elegans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acropora elegans |
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The Acropora elegans is a special kind of coral. It's part of the Acroporidae family. This coral was first described by a scientist named Henri Milne-Edwards way back in 1860. You can find it living in calm, sloped areas of coral reefs. It usually lives quite deep, from about 30 to 60 meters (around 100 to 200 feet) underwater.
Sadly, this coral is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This means its population is shrinking. It's not a very common coral, and it only lives in a small area. It's also protected under CITES Appendix II, which helps control trade of endangered species. Interestingly, it seems to be stronger against diseases than some other Acropora corals.
What Does It Look Like?
Acropora elegans forms large, flat colonies. These colonies can be over 1 meter (about 3 feet) wide! Flat branches grow out from the center of these structures. Each branch can be up to 40 mm (about 1.5 inches) long. They are also about 10 mm (less than half an inch) wide.
Smaller branchlets grow on the surface of the coral. These can reach up to 20 mm (about 0.8 inches) in length. The tips of the branches and branchlets are usually pale. The rest of the coral is typically a tan color.
This coral has tube-shaped parts called corallites. These are found on the sides of most branches. They are long and combine with other parts of the coral structure. Acropora elegans looks quite similar to another coral, Acropora simplex. It likes to live on steep slopes of sheltered reefs. It can be found at depths between 30 and 60 meters (100 to 200 feet).
Where Does It Live?
Acropora elegans is not a common coral. It lives in a small area called the Indo-Pacific region. You can find it in places like Ryukyu, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. It also lives in two areas of Indonesia.
It is native to countries such as Australia, Japan, and Taiwan. Scientists don't know the exact number of these corals. However, they do know that the population is decreasing.
Because this coral lives in deep water, it might be safer. It may not be as threatened by diseases or coral bleaching. Coral bleaching happens when sea temperatures get too high. Even so, this coral faces other dangers. It can be eaten by starfish called Acanthaster planci. It's also threatened by people collecting corals. Climate change, diseases, and fishing also harm it. Human activities in general can affect its habitat.
As mentioned, this species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This means it's at high risk of becoming extinct. It's also listed under CITES Appendix II. This helps to protect it from being over-harvested or traded.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The Acropora elegans coral was first described in 1860. It was named Madrepora elegans by scientists Milne Edwards and Haime. Later, in 1971, another scientist named Nemenzo thought it was the same as Acropora magnifica. So, for a while, it was considered a synonym of that species.
However, after more study, it was re-classified. Scientists decided it was its own separate species. That's why it's now known as Acropora elegans again.
