Brazilian Rose Coral
CR

Brazilian Rose Coral

Meandrina brasiliensis

Declining

Photo: Photo: (c) João D'Andretta, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by João D'Andretta

Overview

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

Meandrina brasiliensis faces severe decline due to coastal development and tourism infrastructure along Brazil's Atlantic coast, which destroys critical reef habitats. Ocean warming and acidification from climate change cause widespread coral bleaching events, while agricultural and urban runoff creates nutrient pollution that promotes harmful algal blooms. Sedimentation from coastal construction smothers coral polyps, and overfishing removes key herbivorous fish that maintain healthy reef ecosystems.

Threat summary

Habitat

Meandrina brasiliensis inhabits shallow tropical coral reef environments along Brazil's Atlantic coast, typically found in clear waters at depths of 5-30 meters. This species forms part of the endemic Brazilian reef ecosystem, growing on hard substrates in areas with moderate to strong water circulation.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Smooth Flower CoralCR

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Threatened in Brazil

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Brazilian Rose Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Brazilian Rose 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. Meandrina brasiliensis faces severe decline due to coastal development and tourism infrastructure along Brazil's Atlantic coast, which destroys critical reef habitats. Ocean warming and acidification from climate change cause widespread coral bleaching events, while agricultural and urban runoff creates nutrient pollution that promotes harmful algal blooms. Sedimentation from coastal construction smothers coral polyps, and overfishing removes key herbivorous fish that maintain healthy reef ecosystems.
Where does Brazilian Rose Coral live?
Brazilian Rose Coral occurs in Brazil. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Brazilian Rose Coral?
The main threats to Brazilian Rose 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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