Acropora echinata

(Dana, 1846)

Thorny Staghorn Coral

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: South Africa to the Maldives, and east to Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Samoa and Australia.

Natural Environment: Inhabits protected reef environments in clear water and usually seen at depths between 25 to 85 feet (8 - 25 m).

General Husbandry: See Acropora aculeus for suggested aquarium husbandry.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Acroporidae

Genus: Acropora

FYI: This bush-like Acropora is sometimes found totally 'blue' in the wild, yet usually cream or white with blue or purple branch tips.

Cultured specimens exist in the trade that exhibit bright colors, therefore ask under what conditions it was grown in, so you may adjust PAR to meet it needs.