Acropora cervicornis
Staghorn Coral
Maximum Size:
8 ft (2.5 m)
Longevity:
Individual polyps live 2 to 3 years, but colonies can live for centuries.
Typical depth:
3–164 ft (1–50 m)
Behavior:
Staghorn corals are usually found in calm back reef areas with clear water. They provide important habitat for a range of different coral reef organisms. The coral polyps feed at night, while the zooxanthellae in their tissue photosynthesize during the day. Staghorn coral is the fastest growing coral species in the Western Atlantic.
Predators:
Some worm and snail species. The biggest threat is from disease.
Did you know?
Staghorn is the fastest growing coral in the Caribbean, capable of growing up to 20cm (8in) in a single year. This species can reproduce sexually, through the release of eggs and sperm, as well as asexually through fragmentation.
