Grooved Brain Coral
CR

Grooved Brain Coral

Diploria labyrinthiformis

Declining

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

Overview

Diploria is a monotypic genus of massive reef building stony corals in the family Mussidae. It is represented by a single species, Diploria labyrinthiformis, commonly known as grooved brain coral, and is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It has a familiar, maze-like appearance.

Diploria labyrinthiformis faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures, with mass mortality recorded during the 2014-2017 global bleaching event. White band disease and other coral diseases have devastated remaining colonies, while coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities continue to degrade water quality in critical reef habitats. Ocean acidification further compromises the species' ability to build and maintain its characteristic calcium carbonate skeleton.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits shallow coral reef environments in the Caribbean, typically found in depths of 1-20 meters on reef crests, fore-reefs, and back-reef areas. It prefers areas with moderate to high wave action and clear, well-oxygenated waters with stable salinity levels.

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

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryLegislation

Other threatened species in FAVIIDAE

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Mussismilia hispida

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EN

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Atlantic Mushroom CoralCR

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Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

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Styracura schmardae

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Bahamian HutiaCR

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Geocapromys ingrahami

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Grooved Brain Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Grooved Brain 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. Diploria labyrinthiformis faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures, with mass mortality recorded during the 2014-2017 global bleaching event. White band disease and other coral diseases have devastated remaining colonies, while coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities continue to degrade water quality in critical reef habitats. Ocean acidification further compromises the species' ability to build and maintain its characteristic calcium carbonate skeleton.
Where does Grooved Brain Coral live?
Grooved Brain Coral occurs in Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico, and Trinidad & Tobago. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Grooved Brain Coral?
The main threats to Grooved Brain Coral are 11.1, 11.4, 12.1, and 2.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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