Coral (Elkhorn)
About the Coral (Elkhorn)
Once the most abundant coral in the Caribbean, now critically endangered. They are the primary reef-builder of Caribbean shallow reefs. Their thick branching structure creates reef complexity that shelters thousands of species. They have declined by 95% since 1980 due to white band disease, warming, and hurricanes. Like staghorn coral, they are being restored through coral gardening. They were listed under the US Endangered Species Act in 2006. They grow 5-10 cm per year. They reproduce by broadcast spawning. They are named for their resemblance to elk antlers. Restoration shows promise but recovery is slow.
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