Acanthastrea brevis

Acanthastrea brevis
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Anthozoa
Order:	Scleractinia
Family:	Lobophylliidae
Genus:	Acanthastrea
Species:	A. brevis
Binomial name
Acanthastrea brevis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849

Acanthastrea brevis is a vulnerable species of stony coral found in reef habitats at depths of 1–20 m. It is threatened by habitat loss and crown-of-thorns starfish predation. It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching and ocean acidification.

Distribution

It is found in the waters of American Samoa, Australia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mayotte, Micronesia, Mozambique, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Réunion, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Viet Nam and Yemen.

Biology

Acanthastrea brevis is a zooxanthellate species of coral. It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbiotic dinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps.

Status

This coral has a wide range but is rare throughout its range. It is particularly susceptible to attack by the crown of thorns starfish. The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats; increasing damage from extreme weather events, rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being "vulnerable". All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II.