Acropora nasuta

Lore & Background

Acropora nasuta is a small colonial coral that grows in clumps with flat tops. Its branches are tapering, up to 12 mm wide, and the radial corallites often form neat rows, sometimes long and slender, sometimes appressed. The axial corallites may be larger or the same size as the radial ones. The coral is creamy-white or pale brown, with branch tips occasionally bluish. It is a zooxanthellate coral, hosting symbiotic dinoflagellate algae that produce carbohydrates via photosynthesis; additionally, its polyps extend tentacles at night to feed on plankton. Barnacles of several species grow on its branches, and small fish, crabs, and shrimps live permanently among them. The crown-of-thorns starfish preferentially feeds on Acropora species.

Reader's Guide

Acropora nasuta is a common species in shallow reef habitats across the western and central Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and east Africa to India, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia. It grows on upper reef slopes and reef edges between three and fifteen metres deep. The main threat to this coral is the destruction of coral reefs where it lives. Although relatively common, it is a shallow-water species and is susceptible to bleaching and coral diseases. It is also collected for the reef aquarium trade. Corals in general are expected to be impacted by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. For these reasons, the IUCN has listed Acropora nasuta as an endangered species. Its significance lies in its role as a reef-building coral and its vulnerability to environmental stressors, highlighting broader challenges facing Indo-Pacific reef ecosystems.

Did You Know?

• Acropora nasuta is a zooxanthellate coral, meaning it has symbiotic dinoflagellate algae living within its tissues.
• Barnacles of several species grow on the branches of Acropora nasuta.
• The coral is collected for the reef aquarium trade.