Elkhorn coral - Acropora palmata

Elkhorn coral - Acropora palmata

Colonies with thick rounded or flat branches, without distinct axial corallites. Colony diameter up to 3.5 meter, and more than 1 meter in height. Branch diameter between 5 and 25 cm, and 1-3 cm thick. Golden-brown with light rims. Corallites are porous protruding tubes, less than 5 mm long and 0.5-0.8 mm in diameter. They are densely packed, with 1-2 mm in between. A columella is absent. Found on the reef  up to within the reach of waves.