Bushy Staghorn Coral

Superpower

Builds dense bushy stands that calm the water and shelter juvenile fish.

At a glance

Size

typically 50 cm, up to 200 cm

Depth

1–15 m

Habitat

Shallow lagoons and reef flats.

Diet

Mostly fed by symbiotic algae; also catches plankton.

Can I eat it?

No — this one is not eaten.

Safety

• Venomous1/10

  Mild sting, harmless to people.

Fun facts

• •It grows in tight, bushy clumps rather than open antlers.
• •Branch tips often glow pale blue or purple.
• •Thickets buffer the shore from wave energy.