At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Invertebrates
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Sources disagree — IUCN's 2022 global assessment says Near ThreatenedChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28
Conservation overview
Lobed star coral is a reef-building coral that forms domed and plate-like colonies on Caribbean reefs. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
Like all corals it is a colony of tiny animals 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 Caribbean reef-builder under pressure from bleaching and disease, lobed star coral is part of the wider reef crisis and a focus for restoration.
Sources
Sources for Lobed Star Coral
- IUCN Red List — look up Lobed Star Coral (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lobed star coral a single creature?
No — it is a colony of many tiny coral polyps building a shared stony skeleton, hosting symbiotic algae that supply much of its colour and energy.
Why is lobed star coral Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite warming-driven bleaching, coral disease, and pollution and reef degradation. See the IUCN Red List.