Acropora prolifera

Acropora prolifera is very similar to staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) in appearance but usually forms smaller, denser clumps. The branches are mostly horizontal and often divide near the tip, sometimes fusing with other branches. It also resembles elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and genetic studies show that it is a hybrid between that and staghorn coral. The corallites, the calcareous skeletal cups in which the polyps sit, are tubular and protrude from the surface of the branches. They are tightly packed and arranged in linear rows and there is a larger corallite at the tip of each branch. The branches are up to in diameter and the whole colony may grow to across. The general colour is pale yellowish-brown and the branches have paler tips. ==Distribution==

Acropora prolifera is found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas and southern Florida southwards to Colombia and Venezuela. ==Biology==

Many reef corals have mass spawning events when vast numbers of gametes are released into the sea at the same time. This happens with elkhorn and stagshorn corals and when these sympatric corals spawn at the same time, F1 hybrids can be formed. In the case of Acropora prolifera, hybrids come in two forms. Where the female gamete is derived from the elkhorn coral, the resulting offspring is bushy and compact. Where the female gamete comes from staghorn coral, the offspring adopts a more palmately dividing form. ==References==