Moose antler coral

Moose antler coral
	Acropora palmata
Systematics
Class :	Flower animals (anthozoa)
Subclass :	Hexacorallia
Order :	Hard corals (Scleractinia)
Family :	Acroporidae
Genre :	Acropora
Type :	Moose antler coral
Scientific name
	Acropora palmata
	Lamarck , 1816

The elk antler coral ( Acropora palmata ) is a hard coral (Scleractinia). It is one of only three Acropora species from the Caribbean , the coasts from Florida to Venezuela , where they often dominate the upper areas of the coral reefs , which are heavily moved by waves . It received the German trivial name because of its large, shovel-like branches.

features

The branches of this type of coral reach a diameter of over ten centimeters. In large, monospecific stands, the ends of the branches often grow together so that they form a roof one to two meters above the substrate. The labyrinth of coral branches underneath serves as a hiding place for many fish and other animals. Over time, the gaps are then filled with sediment. Limestone layers that are 125,000 years old were also formed on the Florida Keys .

In the Riffaquaristik it does not matter. Acropora palmata is not imported.

Diseases

White pox disease

Scientists have now shown that the bacterium Serratia marcescens in the elkhorn coral called White pox disease triggers. Genetic tests and laboratory tests have shown that this germ, which is deadly for corals, does not come from other animals, but from sewage from humans.

literature

Helmut Schuhmacher: Coral reefs . BLV Verlagsgesellschaft, 1988, ISBN 3-405-13614-8
Svein A. Fossa / Alf Jacob Nilsen: Coral reef aquarium volume 4 . Schmettkamp Verlag, 1995, ISBN 3-928819-05-4

Web links

Commons : Acropora palmata - collection of images, videos and audio files

Acropora palmata inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Aronson, R., Bruckner, A., Moore, J., Precht, B. & E. Weil, 2008. Retrieved September 2, 2013.

References and comments

↑ Kathryn L. Patterson et al .: The etiology of white pox, a lethal disease of the Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata . In: Proc Natl Acad Sci US A. , Vol. 99, No. 13, June 25, 2002, pp. 8725-8730, PMID 12077296
↑ White pox disease in the English language Wikipedia
↑ Kathryn Patterson Sutherland et al .: Human Pathogen Shown to Cause Disease in the Threatened Eklhorn Coral Acropora palmata. In: PLoS ONE , Vol. 6, No. 8, e23468, doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0023468 .

[1] Kathryn L. Patterson et al .: The etiology of white pox, a lethal disease of the Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata . In: Proc Natl Acad Sci US A. , Vol. 99, No. 13, June 25, 2002, pp. 8725-8730, PMID 12077296

[2] White pox disease in the English language Wikipedia

[3] Kathryn Patterson Sutherland et al .: Human Pathogen Shown to Cause Disease in the Threatened Eklhorn Coral Acropora palmata. In: PLoS ONE , Vol. 6, No. 8, e23468, doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0023468 .