Document
Status Review Report of 82 Candidate Coral Species Petitioned Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act
On October 20, 2009, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries…
Acropora tenella coral
Acropora tenella coral
Acropora tenella
Protected Status
ESA Threatened - Foreign
Throughout Its Range
Quick Facts
Weight
Not relevant for corals
Lifespan
Up to hundreds of years
Threats
Climate change, including ocean warming and ocean acidification,
Diseases,
Land-based sources of pollution,
Unsustainable fishing,
Small population size,
Habitat degradation
Location
Foreign
About the Species
Acropora tenella is a species of coral likely found in in the Coral Triangle area (the Philippines to Timor Leste and east to the Solomon Islands). There are also confirmed records of this species in southern Japan, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. Colonies of Acropora tenella have horizontal, plate-like colonies with flattened branches that usually have a central ridge. Colonies are cream colored with blue or white tips.
Under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries must list threatened and endangered marine species regardless of where they are found. Acropora tenella is listed as threatened throughout its range under the ESA.
Learn more about Acropora tenella (PDF, 3 pages)
Protected Status
ESA Threatened - Foreign
- Throughout Its Range
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Cnidaria | Class | Anthozoa | Order | Scleractinia | Family | Acroporidae | Genus | Acropora | Species | tenella |
|---|
Management Overview
Under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries must list threatened and endangered marine species regardless of where they are found. Acropora tenella is listed as threatened throughout its range under the ESA.
Regulatory Actions & Documents
Listing of 20 Reef-Building Coral Species Under the ESA
We, NOAA Fisheries, are publishing this final rule to implement our final determination to list the following 20 species as threatened: five in the Caribbean (Dendrogyra cylindrus, Orbicella annularis, Orbicella faveolata, Orbicella franksi, and 
Effective