Coral Realms & Reef Builders

Underwater photo of branching staghorn and table corals (Acropora), forming a dense thicket of hard coral structures that provide habitat for reef fish and invertebrates in the Maldives, Dhivehi Name: Muraka.

Acropora (Hard Coral)

Forests of Acropora dominate Maldivian shallows, their branching and tabular forms creating the reef’s primary framework. Fast-growing and highly abundant, they are the architects of complexity, building the habitats that sustain entire reef communities. Their rapid growth rate makes them key indicators of reef recovery after bleaching or storm damage

Common Name: Staghorn Coral | Table Coral

Scientific Name: Acropora sp.

Local Dhivehi Name: Muraka

📸Photo: Staghorn: Markin Ishaq | Table: Mohamed Niyad