Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985

(Fig. 13)

Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985: 338, figs 1–5.

Type locality. Bowl Reef, Great Barrier Reef (holotype NMNH-SI).

MTQ Holdings. G63658–59 Hydrographer’s Passage, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Species group: elegans.

Description. Colony outline: indeterminate, predominantly arborescent. Branches: tertiary branching order absent; length: 2 5–50 mm; diameter: <2.5 mm, axial/radial ratio: 50/50 axial/radial, terete; radial crowding: not touching; axial/radial ratio: <1:10. Axial corallites: two synapticular rings; not porous; outer diameter 1.5 mm; inner diameter unrecorded; primary septa to 1/3 R. Radial corallites: small; two synapticular rings; one size or graded; inner wall developed; shape: tubular; openings: oval-rounded; primary septa to 1/3 R. Coenosteum: same on and between radials: dense spinules; spinule shape: elaborate.

Taxonomic note. This species, described from specimens dredged from 55 to 120 m deep, was regarded as rare until seen in abundance in photographs taken from a remotely operated vehicle on the Great Barrier Reef (Bridge et al. 2012).

Further literature. Wallace (1999), Veron (2000), Turak & DeVantier (2011).