Acropora dendrum
©David Witherall and Thomas Hanigan: Acropora dendrum, Ocean free, Green Island
©David Witherall and Thomas Hanigan: Acropora dendrum
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Acroporidae
Genus
Acropora
Species
Acropora dendrum
Distinguishing features
Distinguishing features still need to be specified.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Interesting facts
- Coral polyps are like Stormtroopers because they are all clones. They have as much pressure as a Scuba Tank in their stinging cells (so they can explode out to capture prey). They eat poo (Damselfish poo) like Dungbeetles (to fertilise the algae inside them). The pigment molecules in their skin are so tightly packed together they are like crystals (to reflect damaging solar radiation and prevent sunburn). Almost all of them died out with the Dinosaurs, but like birds, a few survived to evolve into the modern corals we see today (Acropora). They secrete mucous (Snot) and eat it (they cover the whole colony with mucous and add toxins to it so creatures don’t eat them and they will also add sugar to it to make sure all the Stormtroopers get plenty of food).
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
