A taxonomic revision of hermatypic corals (Scleractinia; Family Acroporidae Verrill, 1902) present in zoological museum of the University of Karachi

Abstract

Six species of hermatypic corals including Acropora digitifera (Dana, 1846),Acropora hyacinthus (Dana, 1846), Acropora valida (Dana, 1846), Acropora glauca (Brook, 1893), Acropora cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816), Acropora formosa (Dana, 1846) of the family Acroporidae Verrill, 1902 were originally collected by James A Murray (Curator and Zoologist at Victoria Museum) in 1880 from the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. The specimens were present in the Victoria Museum, Frere Hall, Karachi before 1952. Currently these collections are kept in Zoological Museum of the Karachi University. The present revision deals with the detailed taxonomic description of the Acroporidae corals. Species are compared with comprehensive literature and authentic keys.