The staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was once one of the most important Caribbean corals in terms of its contribution to reef growth and fishery habitat, but in the 1980s, its populations collapsed throughout Florida and the Caribbean due primarily to disease (usually White band disease). We saw several healthy stands in our dives along the southern coast of Cuba.
Staghorn Coral
Image courtesy of Cuba’s Twilight Zone Reefs and Their Regional Connectivity. Download larger version (jpg, 621 KB).

The staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) was once one of the most important Caribbean corals in terms of its contribution to reef growth and fishery habitat, but in the 1980s, its populations collapsed throughout Florida and the Caribbean due primarily to disease (usually White band disease). We saw several healthy stands in our dives along the southern coast of Cuba.

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