Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral
CR

Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral

Agaricia tenuifolia

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaricia_tenuifolia

Overview

Agaricia tenuifolia, commonly known as thin leaf lettuce coral, is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Agariciidae. This coral is found in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

Agaricia tenuifolia faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species is particularly vulnerable to white plague disease and other coral pathogens that have devastated Caribbean reef systems. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities further degrade the clear, shallow reef environments this coral requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This coral species inhabits shallow reef environments in the Caribbean, typically found at depths of 1-20 meters on reef slopes and fore-reef zones. It requires clear, warm tropical waters with good water circulation and moderate to high light levels for its symbiotic zooxanthellae.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryLegislation

Other threatened species in AGARICIIDAE

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Pavona minuta

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Lettuce CoralVU

Lettuce Coral

Agaricia agaricites

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Lowrelief Lettuce CoralCR

Lowrelief Lettuce Coral

Agaricia humilis

Declining
CR

Sunray Lettuce Coral

Helioseris cucullata

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Threatened in Bahamas

Oriente Yellow-mottled FrogVU

Oriente Yellow-mottled Frog

Eleutherodactylus ricordii

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Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
EN

Atlantic Chupare

Styracura schmardae

Declining
Bahamian HutiaCR

Bahamian Hutia

Geocapromys ingrahami

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Agaricia tenuifolia faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species is particularly vulnerable to white plague disease and other coral pathogens that have devastated Caribbean reef systems. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities further degrade the clear, shallow reef environments this coral requires for survival.
Where does Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral live?
Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral occurs in Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral?
The main threats to Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral are 11.1, 2.1, 5.4, and 6.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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