Elkhorn coral
Acropora palmata
(Lamarck, 1816)
Description:
Colonies with thick rounded or flat branches, without distinct axial corallites. Colony diameter up to 3.5 meter, and more than 1 meter in height. Branch diameter between 5 and 25 cm, and 1-3 cm thick .
Color:
Golden-brown with light rims.
Corallites:
Corallites are porous protruding tubes, less than 5 mm long and 0.5-0.8 mm in diameter. They are densely packed, with 1-2 mm in between. A columella is absent.
Habitat:
On the reef at a higher level than Acropora cervicornis and Acropora prolifera up to within the reach of waves. Not in inner bays.
Distribution:
Abundant to common Bahamas and Caribbean; common to occasional South Florida.