鹿角珊瑚Acropora plumosa

不知您是否聽說過鹿角珊瑚Acropora plumosa？這是一種壯麗的珊瑚，枝芽呈翼狀突起。這種珊瑚只有在達到成熟的尺寸後才會展現其獨特的美麗和特徵。即使您在水族館看到這個物種，其外觀也比不上野外成熟的珊瑚群奇特。

鹿角珊瑚Acropora plumosa會附著在一側，然後橫向發展成平面。它的分支大部分是分開的，但當幾個分支重疊時就會融合在一起。它的紋理像網格，在明亮的燈光下會呈現昆蟲翼的外觀。

這種珊瑚會附著在珊瑚群的中心或附近。您一定想知道這麼大一簇的珊瑚會有多重吧。所有片層珊瑚，尤其是鹿角珊瑚Acropora plumosa有著非常厚實的主幹，並在此基礎上不斷長出新的組織層。隨著分枝的生長，主幹也會不斷發展，保持堅固。

這些珊瑚可以長得非常大，形成9英尺（3米）多寬的平面。這種珊瑚長得太大可能被風暴損壞，珊瑚群的一部分可能會斷裂，然後靠在母珊瑚群的旁邊垂直生長。

如果發生這種情況，一切就會變得非常神奇了。鹿角珊瑚Acropora plumosa要沿著水平面伸展，因此它會沿著珊瑚群的邊緣以垂直的姿態萌發新枝，形成翅膀一樣的形狀，看起來彷彿要起飛。

這一定是水下最令人印象深刻的珊瑚之一。我們很幸運能夠發現這片完整的珊瑚礁，觀賞到上面覆蓋的這些罕見、嬌弱的珊瑚。

該物種多棲息在熱帶淺水珊瑚礁中。我們發現的這片珊瑚位於水下10-30米之間的庇護礁石坡上。在Polyp Lab Coral Spotting考察之旅中，我們在哈馬黑拉島的Kobe Reef珊瑚礁也發現了這些珊瑚。

在世界自然保護聯盟紅色名錄（IUCN Red List）中，鹿角珊瑚Acropora plumosa被列為易受害物種。它的種群數量正在減少，因此在一個地方發現如此多健康的珊瑚群極為罕見。除了七月和八月的大風期外，我們在哈馬黑拉島發現的這些珊瑚群處於一個不受熱帶風暴影響的緯度，因此它們得以完整、健康成長。

原文：

Acropora plumosa Is A Coral That Sprouts Wings!

Acropora plumosa

Have you ever heard ofAcropora plumosa, theglorious coralthat sprouts wings? The unique beauty and distinguishing traits of this corals are only realized once it reaches a mature adult size, and even if you』ve spotted this species in an aquarium nothing compares to the surreal appearance of full-grown wild colonies.

Acropora plumosais attached at the side and grows into horizontal tables. The branches are mostly separate but can fuse together when several branches overlap. This lattice texture gives the appearance of a insects wing under a bright flashlight.

The colonies are attached in the center or near the side of the colony, and you have to wonder just how much something like this would weight. All plating corals, but especiallyAcropora plumosahas a very thick strong base, and it is constantly adding on new layers of tissue fortifying it』s hold-fast as the branches grow.

However, where these colonies can grow quite large forming tables over 9 feet (3m) across. It』s possible the corals become too large or can be damaged by a storm, and a part of the colony can break apart appearing, resting in a more vertical position to the parent colony.

When this happens the magic really happens.Acropora plumosawants to be oriented on a horizontal plane, so it will start sprouting new branches in the form of vertical plates along the edge of the colony. Like wings sprouting from the edge of the corals, it looks as thoughA. plumosacorals are about to take flight.

This has to be one of the most impressive corals any dive can find underwater and we were lucky enough to find a full reef slope covered in these rare, and vulnerable corals.

This species occurs in shallow, tropical reef environments. It is found on sheltered reef slopes between 10-30 m. We found these beauties at theKobe Reefsite in Halmahera while on thePolyp Lab Coral Spotting expedition.

Acropora plumosais classified as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it has a decreasing population, making it even more uncommon to find so many healthy colonies in one place. And, besides a period of high wind from July and August, the area around Halmahera where we found these colonies is at a latitude that does not receive tropical storms, allowing these colonies to grow to a full and mature size.

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