Branching corals give a shallow reef much of its shape. Their fast growth builds shelter, but a careless touch can break what has taken time to grow.
- Local names
- Pukakana
About this species
The guide identifies this staghorn coral as Acropora austera. Acropora corals are prominent on shallow reef flats and fringing reefs, where branching and plate-like forms expose their tissues to light. Some species in the group can grow around 20 cm a year; that figure is not a fixed growth rate for every colony.
Symbiotic algae use sunlight to produce much of the coral’s food. The polyps also catch small prey and particles with stinging cells and mucus. This combination helps Acropora become a major reef-building group. Its branches are fragile, so give them room when swimming.