Acropora clathrata
species of cnidarian
Acropora clathrata, commonly known as lattice table coral is a species of stony corals belonging to the family Acroporidae. They are a zooxanthellate coral, which are generally found in fringing reefs, sheltered reefs and back reef habitats, between the depths of 5–40 m (16–131 ft). Its size varies according to the depth at which they are found, with members of the species that have larger surface areas typically found at greater depths.
The species is native to Indo-Central Pacific region where it is widespread from Madagascar to the Red Sea to Western Australia.
Ecology
The species is an important resource for Spirobranchus giganteus, which is found embedded in Acropora chlathrata in much higher densities than other stony corals. Oil-degrading bacteria affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes harbored in the tissue of Acropora clathrata aid the survival of the species as oil concentrations in their environment change.
Conservation
Per IUCN, the species has the status "least concern".
Life cycle
Acropora eggs go through five changes in color as they develop. The first of these stages is white, followed by light-cream, cream, light-pink, and, finally, pink when mature.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Acropora clathrata” is species of cnidarian. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Acropora, clathrata and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of cnidarian” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 29, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q3941934. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Acropora clathrata”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Acropora clathrata primary sources, Acropora clathrata archive and Acropora research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Acropora clathrata”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Acropora clathrata” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.