Illustration of staghorn coral
staghorn coral
noun
stag·horn coral
ˈstag-ˌhȯrn- 
: any of several large branching corals (genus Acropora, especially A. cervicornis) that somewhat resemble antlers
Examples of staghorn coral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By vacuuming microbes out of the sand, sea cucumbers reduce the growth of ecosystem-smothering algae as well as nasty bacteria that cause coral disease: A 2024 experiment found that removing sea cucumbers on two Pacific reefs led to a surge in sickness and death among many staghorn corals.
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Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 15 May 2025
As branching coral look-alikes, the cuttlefish splayed out their arms and displayed dark mottles to blend in with staghorn coral.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
This might serve to help the cuttlefish hide among staghorn corals to conceal its approach to prey.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025
While even dying staghorn corals can poke up from reefs like deer antlers from heather, other species, such as brain corals, may protrude less than an inch.
—airmail.news, 24 Feb. 2024
Palacio said the region saw widespread mortality of elkhorn and staghorn corals, two species that have been the focus of restoration efforts.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
In This Article Local Excursions On-site Amenities The Location
Cutting into the piece of staghorn coral felt like sacrilege.
—Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2023
Today, thanks to the efforts of Fragments of Hope, other community partners and the government of Belize, the caye is surrounded by abundant staghorn coral and serves as an example of the power of local conservation.
—Katharine Hayhoe, Scientific American, 14 July 2023
Hung on a tree structure, the staghorn coral shown here will have a better chance of surviving and being transplanted back onto a reef.
—Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2015
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Katarina Zimmer, JSTOR Daily, 15 May 2025
As branching coral look-alikes, the cuttlefish splayed out their arms and displayed dark mottles to blend in with staghorn coral.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025
This might serve to help the cuttlefish hide among staghorn corals to conceal its approach to prey.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025
While even dying staghorn corals can poke up from reefs like deer antlers from heather, other species, such as brain corals, may protrude less than an inch.
—airmail.news, 24 Feb. 2024
Palacio said the region saw widespread mortality of elkhorn and staghorn corals, two species that have been the focus of restoration efforts.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024
In This Article Local Excursions On-site Amenities The Location
Cutting into the piece of staghorn coral felt like sacrilege.
—Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2023
Today, thanks to the efforts of Fragments of Hope, other community partners and the government of Belize, the caye is surrounded by abundant staghorn coral and serves as an example of the power of local conservation.
—Katharine Hayhoe, Scientific American, 14 July 2023
Hung on a tree structure, the staghorn coral shown here will have a better chance of surviving and being transplanted back onto a reef.
—Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2015
Cite this Entry
“Staghorn coral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staghorn%20coral. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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