Massive Starlet Coral
CR

Massive Starlet Coral

Siderastrea siderea

Declining

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

Overview

Siderastrea siderea, commonly known as massive starlet coral or round starlet coral, is a stony coral in the family Siderastreidae. It is found in shallow parts of the western Atlantic Ocean as solid boulder-shaped or domed structures.

Siderastrea siderea faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures, with mass mortality recorded during marine heatwaves in the Caribbean. Ocean acidification compounds these stresses by reducing the coral's ability to build and maintain its calcium carbonate skeleton. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities further degrade water quality in shallow reef environments where this species typically thrives.

Threat summary

Habitat

Siderastrea siderea inhabits shallow coral reef environments and rocky substrates in tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic, typically found at depths ranging from 1 to 40 meters. This massive coral species forms large, dome-shaped colonies on reef flats, fore-reefs, and back-reef areas where it can tolerate varying levels of wave action and sedimentation.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryLegislation

Threatened in Bahamas

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Massive Starlet Coral classified as Critically Endangered?
Massive Starlet 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. Siderastrea siderea faces severe population declines primarily due to coral bleaching events triggered by rising sea temperatures, with mass mortality recorded during marine heatwaves in the Caribbean. Ocean acidification compounds these stresses by reducing the coral's ability to build and maintain its calcium carbonate skeleton. Coastal development and sedimentation from land-based activities further degrade water quality in shallow reef environments where this species typically thrives.
Where does Massive Starlet Coral live?
Massive Starlet Coral occurs in Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, and São Tomé & Príncipe (plus 1 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 Massive Starlet Coral?
The main threats to Massive Starlet 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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