Acropora selago

Acropora selago is a stony coral belonging to the family Acroporidae, a group of reef-building corals known for their branching or plate-like skeletal structures made of calcium carbonate. Like other Acropora species, it hosts symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) within its tissues, which provide energy through photosynthesis while the coral colony provides shelter and access to sunlight. Colonies contribute to the physical framework of reef ecosystems, creating structural habitat for fish, invertebrates, and other marine organisms.

This species occupies shallow marine neritic waters and has been recorded in Australia, Taiwan, China, Japan, and Oman, reflecting a range across the western Pacific and into the Indian Ocean.

Acropora selago faces a combination of pressures common to reef-building corals in these regions. Fishing and harvesting activities, along with recreational use of reef areas, cause direct physical damage to colonies. Pollution from domestic and urban wastewater, agricultural runoff, and effluents from non-timber crop production degrades water quality, reducing coral resilience.

Invasive species and disease outbreaks, along with pressure from problematic native species such as coral-eating starfish, add further stress. Habitat shifting linked to broader environmental change compounds these threats.

Conservation efforts affecting this species are largely embedded within broader coral reef protection frameworks, including marine protected areas, water quality regulation, and reef monitoring programs in range countries such as Australia and Japan. Species-specific interventions remain limited.

Acropora selago is currently classified as Endangered, with a decreasing population trend. Given the ongoing and multiple co-occurring threats affecting its habitat, the species' outlook remains concerning without sustained improvements in water quality management and reef protection.