elkhorn coral vs plate coral

Acropora palmata compared with Acropora clathrata

Key Differences

• elkhorn coral is Critically Endangered while plate coral is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	elkhorn coral	plate coral
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Cnidaria (Cnidarians)	Cnidaria (Cnidarians)
Class same	Anthozoa	Anthozoa
Order same	Scleractinia (Scleractinia)	Scleractinia (Scleractinia)
Family same	Acroporidae	Acroporidae
Genus same	Acropora	Acropora
Species	Acropora palmata	Acropora clathrata

Evolutionary Relationship

elkhorn coral and plate coral share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Acropora.

Conservation Status

elkhorn coral

CR — Critically Endangered

plate coral

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	elkhorn coral	plate coral
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

elkhorn coral

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Venezuela. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

plate coral

Habitat

Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan.