Acropora Millepora Or Plate Acropora – Acropora millepora

, Acropora Millepora Or Plate Acropora, Acropora millepora
Depth: 2 - 12 m

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Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf

Acropora Millepora Or Plate Acropora, scientifically known as Acropora millepora, is a species of branching stony coral found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a significant component of coral reefs and contributes to the ecological balance of these underwater ecosystems.

Description & Characteristics

Acropora millepora is characterized by its branching morphology, forming plate-like structures with numerous branches. Its colonies are often characterized by a distinct radial symmetry. Each branch is covered in numerous polyps, the individual living units of the coral. These polyps are responsible for the coral’s growth and reproduction. The coral’s color varies widely depending on the location and its symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, microscopic algae residing within its tissues.

Habitat and Occurrence

Acropora Millepora Or Plate Acropora is a common inhabitant of the subtidal zone, extending from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at a depth of approximately 200 meters. This zone, also known as the sublittoral or infralittoral zone, is characterized by consistent water coverage and represents a significant portion of the neritic zone. The coral prefers clear, shallow waters with high light intensity and moderate water flow. It typically forms dense stands on the reef flat, the area of the reef that is exposed at low tide.

Taxonomy

Acropora millepora belongs to the class Anthozoa, the order Scleractinia, and the family Acroporidae. This classification reflects its characteristics as a stony coral, belonging to a group known for their hard, calcareous skeletons.

Feeding

Acropora millepora utilizes a variety of feeding strategies. Its primary source of nutrition is derived from a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. These algae reside within the coral’s tissues and photosynthesize, providing the coral with a significant portion of its energy requirements. Additionally, the coral captures food particles from the water column, including dissolved organic substances, plankton, and dissolved inorganic substances like NaCl, Ca, Mg, K, and IP. The coral’s polyps possess tentacles armed with stinging cells, or nematocysts, which they use to capture and paralyze prey.

Associated Species

Image References

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