Acropora speciosa
Quelch, 1886
Description: Colonies form thick cushions and bottlebrush branches. Axial and incipient axial corallites are large and elongate and only slightly taper. Radial corallites intergrade with axial corallites, but most are small, appressed and tubular or pocket-like.
Color: Usually cream with delicately coloured corallite tips.
Habitat: Protected reef environments with clear water and a high Acropora diversity.
Abundance: Usually uncommon but conspicuous.
Similar Species: Acropora echinata, which has smaller corallites and does not form compact cushions. See also A. granulosa.
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Wallace and Wolstenholme (1998), Wallace (1999).
Large colonies in shallow water are commonly cushion-shaped. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
Corallite detail. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron
The edge of a colony. Flores, Indonesia Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Incipient axial and radial corallites.
Corallite detail. Papua New Guinea Photograph: Charlie Veron