VU

lobed cactus coral

Lobophyllia flabelliformis

Unknown

Overview

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

Lobophyllia flabelliformis 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. Collection for the marine aquarium trade has historically impacted accessible populations, though this pressure has decreased with improved captive propagation techniques.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits shallow coral reef environments in the Indo-Pacific, typically found on reef slopes and lagoons at depths of 5-30 meters. It prefers areas with moderate water flow and clear water conditions, often forming large colonies on hard substrates in tropical marine ecosystems.

MARINE· major

Other threatened species in Lobophylliidae

VU

Echinophyllia costata

Unknown
VU

starry cup coral

Acanthastrea hemprichii

Unknown

Threatened in Australia

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Codonocarpus pyramidalis

Declining
EN

Acacia aprica

Unknown
CR

Dipturus mennii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is lobed cactus coral classified as Vulnerable?
lobed cactus 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. Lobophyllia flabelliformis 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. Collection for the marine aquarium trade has historically impacted accessible populations, though this pressure has decreased with improved captive propagation techniques.
Where does lobed cactus coral live?
lobed cactus coral occurs in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Palau, and Papua New Guinea (plus 5 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 lobed cactus coral?
The main threats to lobed cactus 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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