Atlantic Mushroom Coral
CR

Atlantic Mushroom Coral

Scolymia lacera

Declining

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

Overview

Scolymia lacera, the fleshy disk coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It occurs on reefs in shallow waters in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and southern Florida.

Scolymia lacera faces severe population decline primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species is particularly vulnerable to sedimentation from coastal development and agricultural runoff, which smothers coral polyps and reduces water quality. Disease outbreaks, including white plague and black band disease, have devastated remaining populations across its Caribbean range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Scolymia lacera inhabits shallow coral reef environments in the Caribbean, typically found on reef slopes and back-reef areas at depths of 1-30 meters. This solitary hard coral species prefers areas with moderate water flow and clear, warm tropical waters with stable salinity levels.

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 Atlantic Mushroom Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Atlantic Mushroom 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 lacera faces severe population decline primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. The species is particularly vulnerable to sedimentation from coastal development and agricultural runoff, which smothers coral polyps and reduces water quality. Disease outbreaks, including white plague and black band disease, have devastated remaining populations across its Caribbean range.
Where does Atlantic Mushroom Coral live?
Atlantic Mushroom Coral occurs in Bahamas, 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 Atlantic Mushroom Coral?
The main threats to Atlantic Mushroom 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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