Acropora valida

Lore & Background

Acropora valida was originally described as Madrepora valida by Dana in 1846. It forms colonies of varying shapes, with diameters sometimes exceeding 0.5 metres. The coral has small axial corallites and appressed radial corallites of varying sizes. Its coloration includes brown, cream, or yellow, and branch tips are occasionally purple. It resembles Acropora variabilis.

Reader's Guide

Acropora valida is classified as a least concern species on the IUCN Red List, though its population is believed to be decreasing in line with the global decline of coral reefs. It is listed under Appendix II of CITES. Population figures are unknown, but the species is likely threatened by global reef reduction, temperature-induced coral bleaching, climate change, human activity, the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), and disease. Its distribution spans the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, southwestern, northwestern and northern Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, East China Sea, oceanic western, central and far eastern Pacific Ocean, northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and Johnston Atoll. It occurs at depths of 1 to 15 metres in tropical shallow reefs across a large range of reef habitats.

Did You Know?

• It is found at depths of 1 to 15 metres.
• Its colony diameters sometimes exceed 0.5 metres.