blister coral
Horastrea indica
Horastrea is a monotypic genus of stony coral in the family Coscinaraeidae. It is represented by the single species Horastrea indica, the blister coral.
8
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Annette Gerber, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Annette Gerber
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Coscinaraeidae
Genus
Horastrea
blister coral belongs to the family Coscinaraeidae, order Scleractinia, within the Anthozoa class.
Species Profile
Horastrea is a monotypic genus of stony coral in the family Coscinaraeidae. It is represented by the single species Horastrea indica, the blister coral. It is native to the southwestern Indian Ocean where it is found in shallow water sandy reefs. It was first described by M Pichon in 1971.
Horastrea indica faces significant threats from ocean warming and acidification, which cause coral bleaching and reduce calcification rates essential for skeletal growth. Coastal development, pollution, and destructive fishing practices further degrade the shallow reef environments where this species occurs, while sedimentation from terrestrial runoff smothers coral polyps and reduces water quality.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Shallow tropical coral reefs and reef flats in the Indo-Pacific region, typically occurring in clear, warm waters at depths of 1-20 meters. This species forms small colonies on hard substrates in areas with moderate to strong water movement.
Threats
Coastal development and habitat destruction
Ocean acidification
Ocean warming and coral bleaching
Destructive fishing practices
Water pollution and sedimentation
Found in 8 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). blister coral (Horastrea indica). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/blister-coral