species: Acropora hyacinthus in Frankland Island Group, QLD (Gaia Guide)
Frankland Island Group, QLD > Animalia > Cnidaria > Anthozoa > Scleractinia > Acroporidae > Acropora hyacinthus (gallery)
Acropora hyacinthus


©Andy: A colony of Acropora hyacinthus loripes at North Reef showing a brown colouration and the start of secondary tiers

©Andy: Macro image of Acropora hyacinthus showing the typical form of the Axial and radial corallites

©Andy: Multi-layered colonies of Acropora hyacinthus on the South Horn, Lizard Island

show or add records

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Scleractinia
Family Acroporidae
Genus Acropora
Species Acropora hyacinthus
Status near threatened

Show in taxonomy
Show field guides

Colours

                             

Distinguishing features

This species forms tables or plates. The branchlets are relatively uniform in size and are orientated upward. Axial polyps are distinct, and radial corallites are cup-like. At Lizard Island, colours include brown, light brown, and pinkish-red. Distinct green coloured specimens are seen on inshore reefs, but these are rare at Lizard. A. cytherea is similar but the branches are finer, axial polyps are exsert, and radial polyps are short open tubes rather than cups.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Upper reef slopes, reef crests, and lagoons.

Abundant in shallow habitats around Lizard Island.

Behaviour

Like most Acroporidae, this species is a hermaphrodite broadcast spawner, releasing gametes shortly after dark in the few days after the full moon in the warmer months between November and February.

Web resources

References

  • Abrego, D., M.J.H. Van Oppen and B.L. Willis (2009). Onset of algal endosymbiont specificity varies among closely related species of Acropora corals during early ontogeny, Molecular Ecology, 18: 3532-3543.
  • Alvarez-Noriega, M., A.H. Baird,2, M. Dornelas, J.S. Madin, V.R. Cumbo, and S.R. Connolly (2016). Fecundity and the demographic strategies of coral morphologies, Ecology, 97(12): 3485-3493. LIRS catalog number 2048.
  • Babcock, R.C., G.D. Bull, P.L. Harrison, A.J. Heyward, J.K. Oliver, C.C. Wallace and B.L. Willis (1986). Synchronous spawnings of 105 scleractinian coral species on the Great Barrier Reef, Marine Biology, 90: 379-394. LIRS catalog number 300.
  • View all references