Acropora sirikitiae: A newly described species

[Harlequinmania]

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The newly described species Acropora sirikitiae is a close relative to Acropora divaricata.  It was named in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, Queen Regent of Thailand.  A.sirikitiae features arborescent (branching) growth form and large, bulbous radial corallites (see right). Its distribution ranges from "the Andaman Sea reefs extending along Thailand’s western coastline, from the region of the Adang-Rawi island group in the south to the Surin Islands in the north."  Field surveys show this newly described species is abundant in western Thailand.

Acropora sirikitiae is officially described in a research paper published on Phuket Marine Biological Center's website describes.

We also found an interesting tangential discussion within the paper mentioning at least five species of corals have been recently removed from the genus Acropora to the genus Isopora.  One such species is a SPS reefkeepers may recognize: Acropora Isopora brueggemanni.

Electron micrograph of branch tip of holotype showing axial and radial corallites of A.sirikitiae

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