Acropora abrotanoides is a species of acroporid coral found in Indo-Pacific waters from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden east to the East China Sea, Japan, the central Pacific Ocean and Australia. It is found in shallow coral reefs that are exposed to the action of strong waves, at depths up to 15 m. It is vulnerable to coral bleaching, disease and crown-of-thorns starfish. It is resistant to predation as it has well-developed radial corallite lips.

Taxonomy and systematics Acropora abrotanoides was first described by Lamarck in 1816 as Madrepora abrotanoides. Acropora irregularis was formerly considered as a separate species, but is now considered as synonymous with Acropora abrotanoides.

Description It occurs in colonies of fused branches growing across the seabed (prostrate) with vertical outer branches with diameters of up to 3 metres (9.8 ft); these can be table-shaped. In the centre of a colony, the branches are fused together—these can be either elongated or conical, sometimes with ends tapering to a point. Its branches contain both axial and radial corallites; radial corallites have been observed as elongated and axial corallites occur in varying numbers and are rasp-like or tubular in shape. Radial corallites have evolved to have well-developed tips preventing predation.