Acropora vaughani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acropora vaughani |
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The Acropora vaughani is a type of coral that lives in the ocean. It's found in warm, shallow waters in places like the northern Indian Ocean, Australia, and parts of the Pacific Ocean. This coral was first described by a scientist named J. W. Wells in 1954. It usually lives at depths of about 3 to 20 meters (10 to 65 feet) in clear or slightly cloudy water near coral reefs.
What it Looks Like
This coral grows in shapes that look like open branches, sometimes forming a bushy appearance. It has many small, new branches starting to grow. Its main branches have different sized "cups" called radial corallites, where the tiny coral animals (polyps) live. These cups are spread out nicely. The coral's surface, called the coenosteum, is very fine. Acropora vaughani can be cream, pale blue, or brown in color. It looks quite similar to another coral called Acropora rufus.
Where it Lives and Why it Needs Help
The Acropora vaughani coral lives in many places. You can find it in the northern Indian Ocean, across the central Indo-Pacific region, near Australia, in Southeast Asia, Japan, and the East China Sea. It also lives in the western and central Pacific Ocean, and near Madagascar. It prefers tropical, shallow reefs, especially around fringing reefs where the water might be a bit cloudy. It lives at depths between 3 and 20 meters (about 10 to 65 feet).
Sadly, this coral is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. This means its population is decreasing. It is also protected under CITES Appendix II, which helps control its trade. We don't know the exact number of these corals left. However, scientists believe it is threatened by several things. These include the overall shrinking of coral reefs around the world. Rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, which can kill corals. Climate change, human activities, and diseases also harm them. Even the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), which eats coral, is a threat.
