Pillar Coral and Rough Cactus Coral
( Dendrogyra cylindricus & Euphorbia lactea )
Pillar Coral and Rough Cactus Coral are hard corals found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Hard corals, consists of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of individual polyps, that are cemented together into colonies by the calcium carbonate “skeletons” they secrete. As colonies grow over hundreds and thousands of years, they join with other colonies and become reefs.
Pillar Corals often resemble fingers growing up from the sea floor. Pillar Corals can grow to a height of 10 ft (3 m) with pillars more than 4 in (10 cm) wide. Unlike most coral species the skeleton of the coral is not usually visible because the polyps are typically out feeding during the daytime. This feeding pattern gives the Pillar Coral a furry beige appearance.
Rough Cactus Coral form flat discs or low encrusting mounds with scalloped edges reaching 24 in (60 cm) in diameter. Rough Cactus Coral are typically found in shades of green, brown, gray, blue-gray and may also have luminous tints.
Coral reefs are often called “rainforests of the sea,” with around 25% of all marine species relying on coral reefs for habitat. Multiple factors including climate change, overfishing and pollution are causing a reduction of the Pillar and Cactus Coral by 80% over the past three decades. For these reasons the IUCN has designated both Pillar and Rough Cactus Coral as a vulnerable species.
To learn more about the coral in the Caribbean and conservation efforts visit the link below: