Tabling Acropora

Acropora cytherea

Tabling acropora is a stony coral known for its distinctive horizontal table-like structures. It is a colonial species, forming large plates composed of numerous tiny branchlets. These branchlets grow both vertically and horizontally, creating a solid mass near the center of older colonies. The coral's surface is covered with a thin layer of living tissue, which houses symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae. These algae give the coral its characteristic cream or pale brown color, with occasional hints of pale blue. At night, the coral's polyps extend their tentacles to feed, retracting into the skeleton during the day. This coral is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea to Hawaii, favoring clear, shallow waters with minimal wave action. It thrives in back reef environments, lagoons, and upper reef slopes, typically at depths of 3 to 20 meters. Tabling acropora is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, releasing mature gametes into the water column for external fertilization. The resulting zygote develops into a planktonic larva before settling and metamorphosing into a new coral colony. Divers encountering tabling acropora may notice its association with small crabs, such as Cymo melanodactylus, which feed on coral tissues but also protect the coral from predators. However, these crabs can become more numerous on diseased corals. The species is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.