octopus coral
Galaxea cryptoramosa
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Galaxea cryptoramosa faces severe pressure from ocean warming and acidification, which compromise its calcium carbonate skeleton formation and trigger bleaching events. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities smother colonies and reduce water quality in shallow reef environments. Collection for the marine aquarium trade targets this species due to its distinctive branching morphology and fluorescent polyps.
Habitat
This hard coral species inhabits shallow tropical reef environments, typically found on reef slopes and lagoons at depths of 5-30 meters. It forms distinctive branching colonies in areas with moderate to strong water flow and clear, nutrient-poor waters.
Other threatened species in Euphylliidae
Threatened in Indonesia
Frequently asked questions
Why is octopus coral classified as Vulnerable?
Where does octopus coral live?
What are the main threats to octopus coral?
Get weekly conservation intelligence
One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.
Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.