Acropora pharaonis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acropora pharaonis |
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Acropora pharaonis is a type of coral that lives in the ocean. It was first described by scientists Milne-Edwards and Haime in 1860. You can find this coral in warm, tropical waters, usually on the sides of reefs that are protected from strong waves. It lives at depths of about 5 to 25 meters (16 to 82 feet) underwater. Sadly, this coral is considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List, which means its population is shrinking. It is also listed under CITES Appendix II, which helps control trade of endangered species.
What Does This Coral Look Like?
Acropora pharaonis corals grow in interesting shapes. They can form flat, table-like structures. Or, they can grow as clumps of twisted branches that go up or sideways. These coral colonies can grow quite large, sometimes over 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. They often look very neat and balanced.
The branches of this coral can be up to 250 mm (10 inches) long and 10 to 25 mm (0.4 to 1 inch) thick. They get thinner towards the ends. Many smaller branches grow from the main ones. These smaller branches have tiny cup-shaped parts called corallites.
- Axial corallites: These are small cups found at the very tips of the branchlets.
- Incipient axial corallites: These also grow on the branchlets, making the surface look a bit spiky.
- Radial corallites: These are close together and have small, nose-shaped openings.
The coral is usually brown-grey, but its branch tips are often a paler color. The hard part of the coral is made of a mineral called aragonite, which is a form of calcium carbonate.
Where Does This Coral Live?
Acropora pharaonis is quite common and lives in a wide range of places. You can find it in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Aden. It also lives near New Caledonia, Fiji, and American Samoa. It might even be found near Cocos-Keeling.
Unfortunately, this coral faces many threats:
- Climate change: Changes in global temperatures affect ocean conditions.
- Coral disease: Like people, corals can get sick.
- Rising sea temperatures: This can cause coral bleaching, where corals lose their color and often die.
- Reef destruction: Damage to the coral reefs where they live.
- Predators: Animals like the crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci) eat coral.
- Human activity: Things like pollution and careless tourism can harm corals.
Because of these threats, Acropora pharaonis is listed as a vulnerable species. This means it needs protection. It can often be found in Marine Protected Areas, which are special ocean areas set aside to protect marine life.
Who Discovered This Coral?
This coral was first officially described by two scientists, Jules Haime and Henri Milne-Edwards, in 1860. They originally placed it in a group called Madrepora.
