Caribbean Coral Diaries: Acropora palmata

Acropora palmata Acropora palmata is the king of all Caribbean corals. Acropora palmata grows into thick robust branches and is the most important reef-building species in the Caribbean. Like it’s thinner cousin, Acropora cervicornis, palmata colonies provide complex habitat for juvenile fish. As…

Acropora Palmata Corals Are Much Older Than We Thought

Acropora palmata Researchers at Penn State University have shown that colonial Acorpora corals, in particular, Acropora palmata are much older than previously thought. Although the oldest portion of the coral may no longer exist, the team looked at mutations in the living…

Acropora palmata, the majestic and endangered elkhorn coral

Acropora palmata, the Elkhorn Coral, is the quintessential Caribbean Coral Reef species. This species was once so abundant that entire regions of the reef were called the ‘Palmata Zone’ and it was important to know where the palmata zones were,…

Pacific Island Elhorn Acropora really does look a lot like A. palmata

Almost four years ago we shared with you the discovery of a Pacific Elkhorn Acropora coral; today we can tell you about finding and seeing this coral for ourselves and boy does it look a lot like its Caribbean counterpart.…

Elkhorn coral video shows what the ‘palmata zone’ used to look like

Oh Acropora palmata, the iconic elkhorn coral, how we love to gaze on thee! Once widespread and ecologically paramount in the Caribbean Sea, the elkhorn coral used to be so abundant that there were reef zones named after it. Nowadays…

Coral City Camera Records World’s Most Comprehensive Coral Bleaching Timelapse

Everyone’s favorite underwater camera now has the dubious honor of creating the world’s most comprehensive in-situ coral bleaching timelapse video. Underwater content creator Coral Morphologic says that the summer of 2023 will go down as the hottest in recorded history…

Florida Aquarium successfully breed endangered Elkhorn coral

Scientists at the Florida Aquarium have for the first time, successfully captive-bred The Elkhorn Coral, Acropora palmata. Elkhorn is an endangered species that was once found all over the shallow waters of the Caribbean but now there are thought to…

Hybrid Reef Fish and Corals Are Much More Common Than We Knew

For over a decade we’ve been fascinated by hybrid marine life of all kinds and especially the ways that our beloved clownfish, angelfish, and many others turn out when their genetics get recombined in unexpected ways. While hybrid creatures may…

Caribbean Corals in a Hobbyist Reef Aquarium

As huge as the reef aquarium hobby has become around the world and especially in the U.S., we find it simply astounding how collectively ignorant reefers are of corals that live right off of our shores. Caribbean stony corals consist…

Estimates Place Half a TRILLION Corals in the Pacific Ocean

We’ve all heard that coral reefs are at risk of extinction due to a number of factors and exacerbated by climate change and coral bleaching. Aerial views of endless reefs of bleached corals sure does make for a poignant illustration…