Acropora palmata

coral species

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June 17, 2026

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Acropora palmata, commonly known as elkhorn coral, is a species of branching reef-building coral found in shallow waters of southern Florida and the West Indies. Elkhorn coral belongs to the genus Acropora, which comprises typical stony corals. These corals, like other stony corals, are characterized by their hard, stonelike skeletons, primarily composed of calcium carbonate. Corals are marine invertebrates that form colonies of polyps, which are small, cylindrical structures with a mouth and tentacles. Elkhorn coral is named for its antler-like branches.1234

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conservation
Pollution
reef-building corals, Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata, and the herbivorous sea urchin Diadema antillarum. Their combined loss has transformed Caribbean reefs from high-coral, low-algae ecosystems to high-algae, low-coral ones. The latter type of ecosystems support far fewer species.
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reef-building corals, Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata, and the herbivorous sea urchin Diadema antillarum. Their combined loss has transformed Caribbean reefs from high-coral, low-algae ecosystems to high-algae, low-coral ones. The latter type of ecosystems support far fewer species.
Read More