At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Invertebrates
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
Boulder star coral is a major reef-building coral that forms large mounds on Caribbean reefs. It is assessed as Endangered.
Like all corals it is a colony of tiny animals living with symbiotic algae.
Range & habitat
Caribbean and western Atlantic reefs.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Warming-driven bleaching
- Coral disease
- Pollution and reef degradation
Why it matters
A key Caribbean reef-builder hit hard by bleaching and disease, boulder star coral is central to the wider reef crisis and to coral-restoration efforts.
Sources
Sources for Boulder Star Coral
- IUCN Red List — look up Boulder Star Coral (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is boulder star coral one animal or many?
It is a colony of many tiny coral polyps building a shared stony skeleton, hosting symbiotic algae that provide much of its colour and energy.
Why is boulder star coral Endangered?
Published assessments cite warming-driven bleaching, coral disease, and pollution and reef degradation. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: