leaf coral
VU

leaf coral

Pavona bipartita

Unknown

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

Overview

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

Pavona bipartita faces severe pressure from ocean warming and acidification, which cause coral bleaching events and reduce the species' ability to build its calcium carbonate skeleton. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities smother coral colonies and reduce water quality in shallow reef environments. Destructive fishing practices and physical damage from boat anchors and diving activities further fragment remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

Pavona bipartita inhabits shallow coral reef environments in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, typically found at depths of 1-20 meters on reef slopes and lagoons. This leaf coral species prefers areas with moderate water flow and forms distinctive plate-like colonies that can extend horizontally across reef substrates.

MARINE· major

Other threatened species in Agariciidae

VU

leaf coral

Pavona diffluens

Unknown
VU

leaf coral

Pavona venosa

Unknown
Cactus CoralVU

Cactus Coral

Pavona decussata

Unknown

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 leaf coral classified as Vulnerable?
leaf 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. Pavona bipartita faces severe pressure from ocean warming and acidification, which cause coral bleaching events and reduce the species' ability to build its calcium carbonate skeleton. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities smother coral colonies and reduce water quality in shallow reef environments. Destructive fishing practices and physical damage from boat anchors and diving activities further fragment remaining populations.
Where does leaf coral live?
leaf coral occurs in American Samoa, Australia, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Indonesia (plus 10 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 leaf coral?
The main threats to leaf 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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