Acropora hoeksemai

Acropora hoeksemai is a coral species found in shallow marine habitats. Its colonies can span from 1 to 2 meters across, with some exceptional ones growing larger than 4 meters. The coral displays shades of light brown, white, or cream, and its branches often curve upwards at the tips. These branches are uneven and house both axial and radial corallites. Axial corallites are small, with diameters ranging from 2 to 2.6 millimeters, while radial corallites are neat and tubular in shape. This coral is commonly located on the slopes and walls of reefs, residing at depths between 8 and 20 meters. It is widely distributed across regions such as the Solomon Islands, Indo-Pacific oceans, and Southeast Asia, including countries like Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and the Philippines. Acropora hoeksemai is vulnerable to threats such as disease, bleaching, and predation by the crown-of-thorns starfish. Additionally, it faces challenges from climate change, rising temperatures, fishing activities, and coastal development. It is classified as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List and is included in CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade.