At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Invertebrates
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
Mountainous star coral is a major reef-building coral that forms large, mounded colonies on Caribbean reefs. It is assessed as Endangered.
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 key Caribbean reef-builder threatened by bleaching and disease, mountainous star coral is part of the wider reef crisis and a focus of restoration.
Sources
Sources for Mountainous Star Coral
- IUCN Red List — look up Mountainous Star Coral (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
What role does mountainous star coral play on reefs?
Its large mounded colonies help build the solid structure of Caribbean reefs, providing habitat for many other species, so its loss reshapes whole reefs.
Why is mountainous 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: