Acropora robusta
Dana, 1846
Description: Colonies are irregular in shape with encrusting bases and thick conical branches at the centre and with thinner prostrate branches with upturned ends at the periphery. Branches from the central and peripheral part of the same colony have completely dissimilar shapes. Radial corallites are of mixed sizes and shapes but are generally rasp-like.
Color: Bright green with deep pink branch tips or pinkish-brown, yellow-brown or cream.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments, especially reef margins exposed to strong wave action.
Abundance: Common in the central Indo-Pacific.
Similar Species: Acropora palmerae, A. pinguis and A. abrotanoides.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
Upright branches with a submassive base. Mellish Reef, Coral Sea Photograph: Charlie Veron
On a wave washed intertidal reef flat. Seringapatam Reef, Western Australia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Radial corallites.
A small colony, showing relatively little fusion of basal branches. Negros, Philippines Photograph: Doug Fenner