Artichoke Coral
CR

Artichoke Coral

Scolymia cubensis

Declining

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

Overview

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

Scolymia cubensis faces severe population decline primarily due to coral bleaching events caused by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species is highly vulnerable to sedimentation from coastal development and agricultural runoff, which reduces water quality and light penetration essential for its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Disease outbreaks, particularly white plague and black band disease, have devastated remaining populations across its limited Caribbean range.

Threat summary

Habitat

This hard coral species inhabits shallow reef environments and rocky substrates in the Caribbean Sea, typically found at depths of 1-30 meters. It requires clear, warm waters with high light penetration to support its symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae.

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 Artichoke Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Artichoke 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. Scolymia cubensis faces severe population decline primarily due to coral bleaching events caused by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species is highly vulnerable to sedimentation from coastal development and agricultural runoff, which reduces water quality and light penetration essential for its symbiotic zooxanthellae. Disease outbreaks, particularly white plague and black band disease, have devastated remaining populations across its limited Caribbean range.
Where does Artichoke Coral live?
Artichoke Coral occurs in Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Mexico, and Trinidad & Tobago. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Artichoke Coral?
The main threats to Artichoke Coral are 11.1, 2.1, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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