Info
From Veron, J.E.N. Corals of the World
Description: Colonies are encrusting to massive and are rarely over one metre across. Corallites are cerioid or subplocoid, circular and have thick walls. Septa have long pointed teeth. Colonies have thick fleshy tissue over the skeleton which usually forms concentric folds.
Color: Uniform or mottled dull brown, grey or green, but sometimes brightly coloured.
Habitat: Most reef environments.
Abundance: Usually uncommon, but by far the most common Acanthastrea on tropical reefs.
Similar Species: Acanthastrea subechinata and A. brevis. See also A. hemprichii. Skeletons may be confused with those of the faviids Favites abdita or F. flexuosa, but underwater they do not resemble faviids because of the fleshy polyps.
Synonymised names
Acantastrea echinata (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
Acanthastraea echinata (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
Acanthastraea echinata var. pseudofavites Chevalier, 1975 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastraea echinata var. tenuisepta Chevaiier, 1975 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastraea grandis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastraea hirsuta Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastrea grandis Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastrea hirsuta Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastrea hirsuta var. megalostoma Klunzinger, 1879 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Acanthastrea spinosa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Astraea (Fissicella) echinata Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > superseded combination (basionym)
Astraea echinata Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > superseded combination (incorrect genus spelling)
Astrea echinata Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > superseded combination
Favia hirsuta (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Favites hirsuta (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Prionastraea echinata (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Prionastraea hirsuta (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Prionastrea echinata (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > superseded combination