Common name : staghorn coral, pore coral

Aspect : growth forms are highly variable; common shapes include branching, tabular, staghorn, digitate, corymbose; genus Acropora has distinct axial corallite at the branch tip + radial corallites along sides; genus Montipora has smaller, less distinct corallites, often encrusting or plating; colonies can range from a few centimeters to several meters in diameter, with polyps typically 1-2 mm in diameter, featuring long, slender tentacles. They are known for their vibrant colors (e.g., brown, green, blue) due to symbiotic algae

Feeding : Acroporidae corals are autotrophic feeding (primary) and heterotrophic feeding (supplementary). Primarily, they rely on photosynthesis from symbiotic dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) living within their tissues, which provide up to 90% of their nutritional needs through sunlight. They supplement this by actively capturing zooplankton and other small particles using the tentacles of their polyps, especially at night when polyps extend fully

Environment : thrive in shallow, tropical marine environments in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions, typically at depths of 0-30 meters where sunlight penetrates. Strong water flow and high light intensity are crucial for their growth and to prevent sediment buildup. Habitats range from reefs and lagoons to wave-exposed crest zones, often on hard substrates like rocks or wreckage