Acropora cytherea

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Characters: Colonies are wide flat tables which are usually thin and finely structured. May become thick and robust in turbulent environments. Fine upward projecting branchlets have exsert axial corallites. Radial corallites are short, with open calices. Tentacles are frequently extended during the day. Colour: Uniform pale cream, brown or blue. Similar species: Acropora hyacinthus has branchlets that do not have exsert axial corallites and have radial corallites arranged in a rosette. See also A. plana and A. bifurcata. Habitat: Upper reef slopes and lagoons. Abundance: Common but conspicuous.

Taxonomic note: This species is divisible into several smaller semi-distinct taxonomic units. Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic references: Veron and Wallace (1984), Wallace (1999). Identification guides: Veron (1986), Nishihira and Veron (1995).