Acropora kosurini facts for kids
Acropora kosurini is a type of coral that lives in the ocean. It was first described by a scientist named C. C. Wallace in 1994. You can find this coral in shallow parts of coral reefs, usually between 8 and 20 meters (about 26 to 65 feet) deep. Sadly, it is listed as a vulnerable species, which means its numbers are going down. It's rare but can be found in many places around the world. This coral is also protected under CITES Appendix II.
Quick facts for kids Acropora kosurini |
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What Does This Coral Look Like?
Acropora kosurini corals grow in shapes that look like bushes or flat-topped tables. Their branches are long and get thinner towards the ends. These branches can be about 4 to 12 millimeters wide and up to 100 millimeters long.
- The branches have tiny cup-like structures called corallites.
- At the very tips of the branches, there are rounded corallites called axial corallites.
- Along the sides of the branches, there are other corallites called radial corallites. These are close together and have small openings.
- The corallites come in different sizes, but the larger ones are usually all the same size and neatly arranged.
- This coral is typically brown in color.
- It looks similar to other corals like Acropora divaricata, Acropora variabilis, and Acropora hoeksemai.
This coral lives on the slopes and walls of shallow reefs in the ocean. It grows at depths of 8 to 20 meters (about 26 to 65 feet). It takes about three to eight years for this coral to become fully grown. The coral's hard skeleton is made of a material called aragonite, which is a type of calcium carbonate.
Where Does This Coral Live?
Even though Acropora kosurini is rare, it can be found across a large area. It lives in parts of the Indian Ocean, Australia, and the Indo-Pacific region. You can find it in countries like Thailand, the Philippines, India, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
Scientists don't have exact numbers for how many of these corals exist. However, they know that the population is shrinking. Many things are causing this decline:
- Coral bleaching: This happens when ocean temperatures get too warm, making the coral sick and turn white.
- Pollution: Dirty water from human activities harms the coral.
- Coral diseases: Like other living things, corals can get sick.
- Climate change: Changes in Earth's weather patterns affect ocean conditions.
- Human development: Building and other activities near coastal areas can damage reefs.
- Fishing: Some fishing methods can harm corals.
- Infrastructure: More building projects can impact their habitat.
- Aquarium trade: Sometimes, these corals are collected and sold for home aquariums.
Because of these threats, Acropora kosurini is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. It is also protected under CITES Appendix II, which helps control trade of endangered species. This coral can sometimes be found in Marine Protected Areas, which are special ocean areas where marine life is protected.
Who Discovered This Coral?
The Acropora kosurini coral was first officially described by scientist C. C. Wallace in 1994. She found it in the North-East Indian Ocean.
