Blue Coral
VU

Blue Coral

Heliopora coerulea

Unknown

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

Overview

Blue coral is a species of colonial coral. It is the only octocoral known to produce a massive skeleton. This skeleton is formed of aragonite, similar to that of scleractinia. Individual polyps live in tubes within the skeleton and are connected by a thin layer of tissue over the outside of the skeleton.

Blue Coral faces significant threats from ocean warming and acidification, which compromise its calcium carbonate skeleton formation and overall health. Coastal development, pollution, and destructive fishing practices further degrade its shallow reef habitats across the Indo-Pacific region.

Threat summary

Habitat

Blue Coral inhabits shallow tropical reef environments and lagoons throughout the Indo-Pacific, typically found in areas with strong water movement at depths ranging from the intertidal zone to approximately 65 meters.

MARINE· major

Threatened in American Samoa

Sitona maculariusVU

Sitona macularius

Unknown
VU

Alveopora excelsa

Declining
EN

Acropora rudis

Declining
EN

Montipora corbettensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Blue Coral classified as Vulnerable?
Blue Coral is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Blue Coral faces significant threats from ocean warming and acidification, which compromise its calcium carbonate skeleton formation and overall health. Coastal development, pollution, and destructive fishing practices further degrade its shallow reef habitats across the Indo-Pacific region.
Where does Blue Coral live?
Blue Coral occurs in American Samoa, Australia, British Indian Ocean Territory, China, Christmas Island, and French Southern Territories (plus 34 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Blue Coral?
The main threats to Blue Coral are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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