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 Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28
Conservation overview
Rough cactus coral is a reef coral with meandering, ridged surfaces, found on Caribbean reefs. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It has been hit hard by coral diseases spreading across the region.
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.
- Coral disease
- Warming-driven bleaching
- Pollution and reef degradation
Why it matters
A distinctive Caribbean coral vulnerable to fast-spreading disease, rough cactus coral is part of the broader reef-conservation challenge.
Sources
Sources for Rough Cactus Coral
- IUCN Red List — look up Rough Cactus Coral (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called rough cactus coral?
Its colony surface is covered in meandering ridges and valleys with a rough texture, giving it a cactus-like appearance compared with smoother corals.
Why is rough cactus coral Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite coral disease, warming-driven bleaching, and pollution and reef degradation. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.