CR

Lamarck's Sheet Coral

Agaricia lamarcki

Declining

Overview

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

Agaricia lamarcki faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species has experienced catastrophic mortality during mass bleaching episodes, with some populations showing over 90% decline since the 1980s. Disease outbreaks, particularly white plague and black band disease, have further decimated remaining colonies, while coastal development and sedimentation continue to degrade critical reef habitats.

Threat summary

Habitat

Agaricia lamarcki inhabits shallow coral reef environments in the Caribbean, typically found on reef slopes and walls at depths ranging from 5 to 40 meters. This plate coral species prefers areas with moderate to strong water flow and forms distinctive overlapping plate-like structures on vertical and overhanging surfaces.

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

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Lamarck's Sheet Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Lamarck's Sheet 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. Agaricia lamarcki faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species has experienced catastrophic mortality during mass bleaching episodes, with some populations showing over 90% decline since the 1980s. Disease outbreaks, particularly white plague and black band disease, have further decimated remaining colonies, while coastal development and sedimentation continue to degrade critical reef habitats.
Where does Lamarck's Sheet Coral live?
Lamarck's Sheet Coral occurs in Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, and Cayman Islands (plus 24 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 Lamarck's Sheet Coral?
The main threats to Lamarck's Sheet Coral are 11.1, 2.1, 5.4, and 6.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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