Elkhorn Coral in Cozumel
Elkhorn Coral (*Acropora palmata*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it survives, and why it is Critically Endangered.
Thick flattened branches spreading like the antlers of an elk, golden-brown, always in shallow high-energy water.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Acropora palmata |
|---|---|
| Group | Hard Corals |
| Typical size | Colonies to 3 m across |
| Depth range | 1–8 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Polyps feed at night |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered |
| Notes | Protected species |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Shallow reef crests at Playa Corona, Molas Shallow Reef and shallow sections near Paradise Reef.
Reliable sites: Playa Corona, Molas Shallow Reef, Paradise Reef.
Behaviour
Once the dominant shallow-reef builder across the Caribbean, elkhorn was reduced by more than ninety per cent from the 1980s by white-band disease, bleaching and storms. Surviving colonies are structurally important out of all proportion to their number.
Commonly Confused With
- Staghorn coral — Staghorn has thin cylindrical branches; elkhorn has thick flattened ones.
- Fire coral — Fire coral is mustard-yellow with white tips and stings, and often grows in the same shallow zone.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Critically Endangered. A single fin kick can break decades of growth. Never stand on, hold or brush against shallow coral — this is the reason surge-zone snorkelling in Cozumel has rules.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
