Dipsastraea laxa

Dipsastraea laxa is a stony coral in the family Merulinidae, forming colonies of fused polyps that secrete a calcium carbonate skeleton, typically arranged in massive or sub-massive growth forms. Like other scleractinian corals, it relies on symbiotic zooxanthellae for the bulk of its energy needs while also capturing plankton with its tentacles at night. As a reef-building species, it contributes to the structural framework of coral reefs, providing habitat and shelter for numerous marine invertebrates and fish.

The species occupies marine neritic waters across a broad Indo-Pacific range, with recorded populations in American Samoa, South Africa, Australia, the Maldives, Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Japan, and Palau, typically on shallow reef flats and slopes.

Dipsastraea laxa is classified as Endangered, with a decreasing population trend. Its decline stems from a combination of pressures: fishing and harvesting activities that damage reef structure, recreational activities such as diving and anchoring, outbreaks of invasive species and coral disease, and pollution from domestic wastewater and agricultural runoff. Habitat shifting linked to broader environmental change further compounds these stressors, degrading water quality and reef conditions across its range.

Conservation efforts affecting this species are largely indirect, occurring through its inclusion in marine protected areas, regional reef monitoring programs, and international trade regulation under CITES, which lists most reef-building corals. Water quality management and coastal development controls in some range states also offer partial protection.

Given the persistence of multiple concurrent threats and the species' dependence on stable reef conditions, its population trajectory remains negative. Without substantial reduction in local stressors and broader environmental pressures, continued decline is expected.