Acropora plumosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acropora plumosa |
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Acropora plumosa is a type of coral that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a group called acroporid corals. Scientists Dr. C. C. Wallace and J. Wolstenholme first described this coral in 1998. You can find Acropora plumosa in warm, tropical waters, usually on reefs that are protected from big waves. It often grows on reef walls, about 10 to 30 meters (33 to 98 feet) deep. Sadly, it is a vulnerable species, which means its population is shrinking. It is not very common, but it is found across a large area.
What Does Acropora plumosa Look Like?
Acropora plumosa corals often grow in flat, table-like shapes that are not perfectly round. They are usually brown, but the tips of their branches are often pale. Sometimes, parts of the coral might break off and grow in new, irregular patterns.
These corals have branches that grow out from a central point. On these branches, you'll find two main types of small structures called corallites:
- Axial corallites: These are small, tube-shaped parts found at the very tips of the branches and smaller sub-branches.
- Radial corallites: These are also tube-shaped but are found along the sides of the branches. They are usually spread out from each other.
Acropora plumosa looks a bit like other corals such as Acropora clathrata and Acropora pharaonis. It prefers to live in shallow, tropical reefs, especially on sheltered slopes and reef walls. You can find it on reef walls deeper than 12 meters (39 feet), but it can live anywhere from 10 to 30 meters (33 to 98 feet) deep.
Where Does Acropora plumosa Live?
Acropora plumosa is not a very common coral, but it is found over a wide area in the Central Indo-Pacific region. This includes countries like Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Micronesia, Palau, Singapore, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
This coral faces several dangers that threaten its survival:
- Reef destruction: Habitats are being damaged.
- Climate change: Rising ocean temperatures cause corals to lose their color and die, a process called coral bleaching.
- Coral disease: Like other living things, corals can get sick.
- Predators: Starfish, like the Acanthaster planci, eat corals.
- Human activities: Things like pollution and coastal development can harm coral reefs.
Because of these threats, Acropora plumosa 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. Some of these corals might also live in special Marine Protected Areas, which are like national parks for the ocean.
Taxonomy
The species Acropora plumosa was first described by scientists C. C. Wallace and J. Wolstenholme in 1998.
