Staghorn Coral

coral reef · ocean builder · Western Atlantic

Looks like antlers. Staghorn corals have thick, upright branches that grow super tall, sometimes taller than a person, and they actually look like the antlers of a male deer, which is why they're called staghorn.

Grows super fast. These corals are champion growers, adding 5 centimeters of new skeleton for every 1 centimeter they already have each year. That makes them one of the fastest growing corals in the whole Western Atlantic.

Creates fish homes. Baby fish love living in staghorn corals because the branching structure gives them lots of hiding spots and places to find food, making these corals like underwater apartment buildings for young sea creatures.

Protects the reef. Staghorn corals act as shields that slow down waves and storms, protecting other parts of the reef from getting damaged and washed away by rough ocean water.

Built for shallow water. You'll find staghorn corals in the shallowest parts of the reef where sunlight reaches easily, usually where the water is less than 20 meters (65 feet) deep.