Coral books for diehard coral junkies like ourselves are few and far between, which is why we spend so much time digging through the scientific literature. We frequently come across new discoveries, new species, but occasionally, we come across a real gem of a paper which is a fountainhead of condensed information on our favorite group of animals.
Along with Charlie Veron, Carden Wallace is one of the preeminent experts of stony coral taxonomy, especially when it pertains to Acropora and Isopora “Staghorn Corals”. In 2012 Dr. Wallace released her Revision and catalogue of worldwide staghorn corals Acropora and Isopora (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in the Museum of Tropical Queensland [PDF] .
Initially this great document was behind a paywall but now the whole 250 page document is available online as a completely free download. The broader marine aquarium community has taken Veron’s Corals of the World and accompanying website as the principal authoritative works on the subject of stony coral classification, but Carden Wallace’s focused work on staghorn corals is even more refined for our favorite group of “fuzzy sticks”.
The Revision & Catalog includes lots of insightful information about many of our favorite Acros and it also includes many species which are not featured or mentioned in Veron’s works. Species of Acros you won’t find anywhere else include the description of Acropora arafura, and others we’ve never hears of like Acropora sukarnoi, not to be confused with Acropora suharsonoi, Acropora mossambica and Acropora eibli.
The document also features never before seen pictures and new information on Acropora multiacuta and one of our favorites, Acropora rongelapensis. If you’re like us and your appetite for new information about staghorn corals is never satiated, definitely do yourself a favor, and download the Revision & Catalog by Carden Wallace.
