species: Acropora loripes in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Acropora loripes


©Andy Lewis: A colony of Acropora loripes showing a brownish-purple colouration

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

©Andy Lewis: Blue-purple colony of Acropora loripes at Mermaid Cove, Lizard Island
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hexacorallia
Order Scleractinia
Family Acroporidae
Genus Acropora
Species Acropora loripes
Status near threatened

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

This species is generally corymbose, although the colony morphology can be quite variable. The branchlets are variable in size and orientation, and many of the axial polyps have a bare area on one side (usually the upper) with no radial corallites. Colours include pale brownish-purple, light brown, brownish-yellow, and blue-purple.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Upper reef slopes and shallow reef flats.

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.
  • 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.
  • Baird, A.H., J.R. Guest and B.L. Willis (2009). Systematic and biogeographical patterns in the reproductive biology of scleractinian corals, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 40: 551-571.
  • View all references