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Title: Elkhorn Coral. Cayman Islands
Filename: CAY16_am-19288.jpg
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A view down on a colony of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) growing on a coral reef. The growth in this photo represents 12 year's growth since Hurrican Ivan in 2004, which levelled the colony. This is one of the fastest growing coral species. East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. British West Indies. Caribbean Sea.
Background: For about the last two million years, branching elkhorn and staghorn coral were the dominant shallow reef building species across the Caribbean. Then about 35 years ago things changed. This once abundant species died off to such an extent that it is now rare or even extinct over much of its former range. US waters are the best studied, and there the coverage of this species declined by 98% during the 1980s. Thatâs pretty typical for the region and these species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Background: For about the last two million years, branching elkhorn and staghorn coral were the dominant shallow reef building species across the Caribbean. Then about 35 years ago things changed. This once abundant species died off to such an extent that it is now rare or even extinct over much of its former range. US waters are the best studied, and there the coverage of this species declined by 98% during the 1980s. Thatâs pretty typical for the region and these species are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- Acroporidae
- Anthozoans: Anthozoa
- Astrocoeniina
- British West Indies
- Caribbean Sea
- Cayman Islands
- Cnidarians: Cnidaria
- coral reef
- East End
- elkhorn coral: Acropora palmata
- Grand Cayman
- Invertebrates
- Marine Life
- Stony Corals: Scleractina: Scleractinia
- tropical
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- © Alexander Mustard