Animal Profiles
Corals and anemones

Coral

Anthozoa

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Corals include many colonial animals. This account describes elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), whose branching colonies help form shallow Caribbean reefs.

Acropora palmata, the representative described in this account.

Acropora palmata, the representative described in this account.

Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Elkhorn coral grows on warm, shallow reefs in the Caribbean and nearby western Atlantic.
Habitat
Coral reef
Diet
Omnivore
Food
Algae living in the tissues supply much of the colony's energy.

Classification

Common name
Coral
Browse group
Corals and anemones
Scientific name or taxon
Anthozoa
Taxon rank
class
Source classification
Anthozoa

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • A colony contains many polyps.
  • Branches resemble antlers.
  • Symbiotic algae supply much of its energy.

Habitat and range

Elkhorn coral grows on warm, shallow reefs in the Caribbean and nearby western Atlantic. Exposed reef crests provide light and moving water around its branches.

Appearance and adaptations

Many small polyps contribute to a shared calcium-carbonate skeleton. Broad, antler-like branches give the colony its name, while symbiotic algae influence its brownish colour.

Diet and behaviour

Algae living in the tissues supply much of the colony's energy. The animal polyps also capture small organisms and particles with their tentacles, so photosynthetic partners and animal feeding both contribute.

Sources

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