Living Beings
    Source-identified Acropora millepora; Documentary organism photograph. Framed for display
    1 / 1

    Acropora millepora, GBR.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph. Petra Lundgren, Juan C Vera, Lesa Peplow, Stephanie Manel and Madeleine JH van Oppen. · CC BY 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Acropora millepora

    (Ehrenberg, 1834)

    What does the authority mean?

    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

    The parentheses indicate that the original description used a different genus. Zoological naming rules ↗

    Check the recorded name and authority ↗
    AnimaliaAnthozoaScleractiniaAcroporidae

    Acropora millepora is a branching reef-building coral. A colony contains many connected polyps, and its functioning depends on interactions between the animal, photosynthetic dinoflagellate partners and other associated microbes.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

    Compare species
    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumCnidaria
    5. ClassAnthozoa
    6. OrderScleractinia
    7. FamilyAcroporidae
    8. GenusAcropora
    9. SpeciesAcropora millepora
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Cnidaria phylum
    7. Anthozoa class
    8. Hexacorallia subclass
    9. Scleractinia order
    10. Refertina suborder
    11. Acroporidae family
    12. Acropora genus
    13. Acropora millepora species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    Colonies form branching structures covered by small skeletal cups that house polyps. Colony color alone is insufficient for secure species identification.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Shallow, well-lit marine reef environments support the coral and its photosynthetic partners.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Polyps capture small suspended food, while algal symbionts contribute photosynthetic products.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Tentacles and mucus help the colony interact with surrounding seawater. Recognition mechanisms influence responses to microbes.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Reproduction and life cycle

    Colonies grow by producing additional polyps. Sexual reproduction can release gametes that develop into settling larvae.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific reef region. Species-level locality records should accompany detailed range mapping.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Ecological role

    Skeletal growth contributes reef structure and habitat. Symbiotic interactions are central to energy supply and colony health.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Distinctive adaptations

    A colonial body and partnerships with photosynthetic cells support growth in well-lit reef environments.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Conservation

    Thermal stress, bleaching and degradation of reef habitat are concerns. A source on molecular recognition does not establish a current Red List category.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

    Explore network ↗