Carribean star coral (Orbicella annularis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Merulinidae · Genus: Orbicella.

Accepted name: Orbicella annularis · Authority: (Ellis & Solander, 1786) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 758260.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Astraea (Heliastraea) annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Astraea (Orbicella) annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Astraea (Orbicella) stellulata (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Astrea annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Cyphastraea annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Cyphastraea oblita Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860; Cyphastrea costata Duncan, 1863; Explanaria annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Heliastraea annularia (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Heliastraea annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Heliastrea acropora (Linnaeus, 1767); Heliastrea annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Heliastrea rotulosa Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860; Heliastrea stellulata Ellis & Solander, 1786; Madrepora annularis Ellis & Solander, 1786; Madrepora stellulata Ellis & Solander, 1786; Montastraea annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Montastraea hispidula (Verill, 1901); Montastrea annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Montastrea hispidula (Verrill, 1901); Orbicella acropora (Linnaeus, 1767); Orbicella annularis var. guineensis Gravier, 1909; Orbicella annularis var. stellulata (Ellis & Solander, 1786); Orbicella hispidula Verrill, 1901; Orbicella stellulata (Ellis & Solander, 1786).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=758260 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Orbicella annularis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Depth range: 0–2000 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.

SeaLifeBase notes: Zooxanthellate (Ref. 116012). Known from a submarine cave at a depth of 10 m (Ref. 87209).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 46772) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Orbicella-annularis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

36,616 georeferenced occurrence records for Orbicella annularis are published through GBIF from 45 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 98 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 18 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Colombia (14,651); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (7,503); United States of America (2,009); Bahamas (1,884); Puerto Rico (1,603).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 7617481) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=7617481&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=758260 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Orbicella annularis (Ellis & Solander, 1786) as Endangered (code EN). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 133134) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133134/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 7617481) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/7617481/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

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