Acropora caroliniana
Nemenzo, 1976
Records from the central Indo-Pacific are doubtful.
Description: Colonies are thick horizontal plates composed of prostrate branches and short branchlets. Branchlets have large, usually tapering, axial and incipient axial corallites curving upwards or pointing in different directions. Radial corallites are small and pocket-like.
Color: Whitish-brown or pale blue.
Habitat: Upper reef slopes.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Similar Species: Acropora granulosa, which forms thinner colonies with smaller corallites. See also A. lokani.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Veron and Hodgson (1989), Wallace (1999). Identification guide: Veron (1986).
A large side-attached table in shallow water. Apo Island, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallites of a colony exposed to strong wave action. Calamian Islands, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallites on a colony sheltered from strong wave action. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Bali, Indonesia Photograph: Roger Steene
Skeletal detail. Radial corallites.