Acropora cf. vermiculata (Nemenzo, 1967) Fig. 32 Colony growth form: Corymbose, caespitose or cushion-shaped and finely structured, frequent branchlet formation on main branches; colonies occur isolated or in extensive single-species stands. Axial corallites: Outer diameter 2.3 mm; inner diameter 0.9 mm; slightly elongate with primary septa occupying most of calyx diameter; second cycle is incomplete, with just a few points. Radial corallites: Similar in size and shape; labellate, with poorly developed inner wall and outer wall extending upward; form rosette around axial corallite; one directive septum may be visible. Coenosteum: Costate with some synapticules visible, both on and between radial corallites. Remarks: A. vermiculata has been mentioned as a synonym of Acropora sarmentosa, but the latter has tubular appressed radial corallites and a very reticulate coenosteum (Wallace 1999), while the specimens found at Vamizi clearly have labellate radial corallites, with straight lip, with a neatly costate coenosteum. The radials are similar to those of A. selago or A. tenuis, but these two species have more delicate branches and usually well-defined colonies. Live colonies were closely consistent with Veron’s (2000) A. vermiculata from Tanzania and were also found in extensive single-species stands, justifying the present identification.

{"references": ["NEMENZO, F. 1967. Systematic studies on Philippine shallow water scleractinians: VI. Suborder Astrocoeniida (Montipora and Acropora). Part I - Text. Natural and Applied Science Bulletin 20 (1 - 2): 1 - 141.", "WALLACE, C. C. 1999. Staghorn Corals of the World: A Revision of the Coral Genus Acropora (Scleractinia; Astroncoeniina; Acroporidae) Worldwide, with Emphasis on Morphology, Phylogeny and Biogeography. Collingwood: CSIRO publishing.", "VERON, J. E. N. 2000. Corals of the World. Townsville, Australia: Australian Institute of Marine Sciences."]}

Published as part of Sola, Erwan, Silva, Isabel Marques da & Glassom, David, 2015, An annotated and illustrated checklist of species of the coral genus Acropora (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) from Vamizi Island, Mozambique, pp. 807 in African Invertebrates 56 (3) on page 840, DOI: 10.5733/afin.056.0320, http://zenodo.org/record/7914925