CR

Colpophyllia breviserialis

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Colpophyllia breviserialis faces severe population decline primarily due to coral bleaching events caused by rising sea temperatures, which have devastated Caribbean reef systems over the past three decades. Ocean acidification further compromises the species' ability to build and maintain its calcium carbonate skeleton, while coastal development and sedimentation reduce water quality in critical shallow reef habitats. Disease outbreaks, particularly white plague and black band disease, have caused rapid mortality across remaining colonies.

Threat summary

Habitat

This hard coral species inhabits shallow tropical reef environments in the Caribbean, typically found at depths of 1-20 meters on fore-reef slopes and reef crests. It requires clear, warm waters with high calcium carbonate saturation levels and forms part of the structural framework of Caribbean coral reef ecosystems.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Colpophyllia breviserialis classified as Critically Endangered?
Colpophyllia breviserialis 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. Colpophyllia breviserialis faces severe population decline primarily due to coral bleaching events caused by rising sea temperatures, which have devastated Caribbean reef systems over the past three decades. Ocean acidification further compromises the species' ability to build and maintain its calcium carbonate skeleton, while coastal development and sedimentation reduce water quality in critical shallow reef habitats. Disease outbreaks, particularly white plague and black band disease, have caused rapid mortality across remaining colonies.
Where does Colpophyllia breviserialis live?
Colpophyllia breviserialis occurs in Mexico, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Colpophyllia breviserialis?
The main threats to Colpophyllia breviserialis 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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