Staghorn Coral
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Iconic Caribbean stony coral, now endangered. Wiki Commons
[edit] Overview
Staghorn Coral is one of only two Acropora species in the Caribbean. It is a branching coral with cylindrical branches that may measure from several inches to more than 6.5 feet (2 m) in length.
Once widespread in South Florida and the Caribbean, it has been reduced to an endangered species by a number of environmental onslaughts: coral bleaching events, deforestation and development leading to lowered water quality, disease, other factors.
See NOAA Reference: [1]
Family: Acroporidae
Other common name(s):
Native range:
Habitat: Shallow water, 0 to 100 feet deep (0-30m). Requires pristine, well-oxygenated water conditions. According to NOAA: "Fore reef zones at intermediate depths of 16-82 feet (5-25 m) were formerly dominated by extensive single species stands of Staghorn Coral until the mid 1980s."
Maximum length: 200 cm (79 in)
Lighting: Intense
Placement: Shallow
Water: Marine 23 °C (296 K, 73 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
This coral is protected under the Endangered Species Act of the United States and may not be collected, sold, traded, or possessed without a permit.
| Common name | Staghorn Coral + |
| Family | Acroporidae + |
| Genus | Acropora + |
| Lighting | Intense + |
| Maximum length | 79 in + |
| Native range | Caribbean +, and Florida Keys + |
| Placement | Shallow + |
| Specific name | cervicornis + |
| Water max temp | 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 296 K (23 °C, 73 °F) + |
| Water type | Marine + |