Staghorn coral

• A genome-wide survey of highly endangered staghorn coral in the Caribbean has identified 10 genomic regions associated with resilience against white band disease.

ABOUT STAGHORN CORAL

• Staghorn coral is one of the most important corals in the Caribbean.
• It, along with elkhorn coral and star corals built Caribbean coral reefs over the last 5,000 years.
• These corals can form dense clusters called “thickets” in shallow waters, serving as essential habitat for various reef creatures, especially fish.
• Staghorn coral colonies are golden tan or pale brown with white tips and they get their color from the algae that live within their tissue.
• These corals have antler-like branches and typically stem out from a central trunk and angle upward.
• Each staghorn coral colony is made up of many individual polyps that grow together.
• These coral get food from photosynthetic algae that live inside the coral’s cells. They also feed by capturing plankton with their polyps’ tentacles.
• IUCN Red list Status: Critically Endangered.
• Threats- Ocean warming; ocean acidification, unsustainable fishing practice and land-based sources of pollution.