Acropora rongelapensis

Acropora rongelapensis is a species of branching scleractinian corals. It is only known from the lagoon of Rongelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean.

Acropora rongelapensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora
Species:
A. rongelapensis
Binomial name
Acropora rongelapensis

This coral forms colonies up to 20 cm across with main branches up to 10 cm long. It is pale brown in colour but appears white in strong light due to the dense skeleton. The main distinguishing feature from its congeners is the laterally flattened branches. It occurs at depths of 28–32 m.

References edit

  • Richards, Zoe T.; Carden C. Wallace (2004). "Acropora rongelapensis sp. nov., a new species of Acropora from the Marshall Islands (Scleratinia: Astrocoeniina: Acroporidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 590: 1–5. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.590.1.1.