Staghorn coral
No sign-up needed. You can save notes on this device.
An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Staghorn coral is made up of polyps that resemble sea anemones.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Staghorn coral
- Scientific name
- Acropora muricata
- Japanese name
- スギノキミドリイシ
- Group
- Ocean animals
- Class
- Hexacorallia
- Order
- Scleractinia
- Family
- Acroporidae
- Genus
- Acropora
It is also listed under the scientific name Acropora formosa.
With its branch-like shape it may look like a plant, but it is actually an animal in the coral group that builds a hard skeleton.
It builds coral reefs in warm, shallow seas, and those reefs are places where many kinds of living things grow up.
It takes in nourishment made by partner algae through photosynthesis, as well as tiny plankton.
Where the Staghorn coral has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- スギノキミドリイシ
- 简体中文
- 美丽轴孔珊瑚
- 繁體中文
- 美麗軸孔珊瑚
- Português (Brasil)
- Acropora-de-Mayotte
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 葛西臨海水族園 — スギノキミドリイシChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Staghorn coral, look for this
- Look for white tips on its branches when it is growing well.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
葛西臨海水族園EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Staghorn coral
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Acroporidae
MORE TO MEET
