Kingdom Animalia Class Anthozoa Family Acroporidae Rank Species | Phylum Cnidaria Order Scleractinia Genus Acropora | |
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Acropora irregularis is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern and southwestern Indian Ocean, the Solomon Islands, the central Indo-Pacific, the East China Sea, and Japan. It is also found in the Mariana Islands and Palau. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs that are exposed to the action of strong waves, at depths of between 1 and 15 metres (3 ft 3 in and 49 ft 3 in). It could be synonymous with Acropora abrotanoides.
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Description
Acropora irregularis is found in colonies of fused branches in a horizontal direction with diameters of up to 3 metres (9.8 ft); these can be table-shaped. They are mainly openly branched but some have upturned branches, and the high concentration of fused branches in the centre of a colony makes it seem solid. Its corallites are of no specific length and rasp-like or tubular in shape. It is most often grey in colour. The species is similar to Acropora abrotanoides, Acropora pinguis, and Acropora robusta.
Distribution
It is classed as a data deficient species on the IUCN Red List, but it is believed that its population is decreasing in line with the global trend for coral reefs, and the species is listed under Appendix II of CITES. Figures of its population are unknown, but is likely to be threatened by the global reduction of coral reefs, the increase of temperature causing coral bleaching, climate change, human activity, the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) and disease. It occurs in the northern and southwestern Indian Ocean, the Solomon Islands, the central Indo-Pacific, the East China Sea, and Japan. It is also found in the Mariana Islands and Palau, and is found at depths of between 1 and 15 metres (3 ft 3 in and 49 ft 3 in) in tropical shallow reefs that are exposed to the waves.
Taxonomy
It was described as Madrepora irregularis by Brook in 1892.