Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis).
Image: Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Invertebrates
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
Staghorn coral is a fast-growing branching coral that once built much of the structure of Caribbean reefs. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Corals are colonial animals, not plants: each branch is constructed by tiny polyps living in partnership with symbiotic algae.
Range & habitat
A fast-growing branching coral of 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.
- Ocean warming and coral bleaching
- Coral disease
- Ocean acidification and storm damage
Why it matters
Branching corals like staghorn create the three-dimensional habitat that reef fish and other animals depend on, so their loss reshapes entire reef communities.
Gallery
Restored staghorn coral at Looe Key reef (USGS).
Image: Lauren Toth, USGS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Staghorn Coral
- IUCN Red List — look up Staghorn Coral (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is coral an animal?
Why is staghorn coral Critically Endangered?
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