Atlantic mushroom coral (Scolymia lacera)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Scolymia lacera · Authority: (Pallas, 1766) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 287853.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Caryophyllia lacera (Pallas, 1766); Caryophyllia lacera var. angulosis Ehrenberg, 1834; Caryophyllia lacera var. dichotoma Ehrenberg, 1834; Caryophyllia lacera var. orbicularibus Ehrenberg, 1834; Lithophyllia lacera (Pallas, 1766); Madrepora lacera Pallas, 1766; Mussa angulosa f. lacera (Pallas, 1766); Mussa lacera (Pallas, 1766); Scolymia lacera lacera (Pallas, 1766); Scolymia lacera lacera f. typica Brüggemann, 1877.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=287853 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

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

Depth range: 3–80 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.

SeaLifeBase notes: Zooxanthellate (Ref. 116012).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45796) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Scolymia-lacera.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

4,948 georeferenced occurrence records for Scolymia lacera are published through GBIF from 23 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 45 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 4 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: Virgin Islands (U.S.) (4,012); United States of America (604); Puerto Rico (203); Cuba (24); Colombia (18).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2260340) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2260340&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=287853 (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 Scolymia lacera (M. Edwards & Haime, 1849) as Critically Endangered (code CR). 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 132874) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/132874/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2260340) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2260340/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Scolymia lacera is a coral with a single, solitary polyp and does not increase in size by budding as do colonial species of coral. It is a small species with a diameter of up to 6 cm. The radially-running ridges in the stony cup which it secretes can be seen through the fleshy body of the polyp. Its colour is variable and is usually some shade of greenish-brown.

Scolymia lacera is very similar in appearance to Scolimia cubensis which occupies much the same range. The differences are mostly in the layout of the septa, the miniature ridges in the calcareous calyces in which the polyps sit. S. lacera tends to occupy better lit positions while S. cubensis is in less well lit locations. Where the two come in contact, S. lacera is more aggressive.

Scolymia lacera is found in the Caribbean Sea, the southern half of the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas and southern Florida. It grows on reefs, rocky outcrops and steep reef slopes at depths of between 15 and 80 m.

Scolymia lacera contains single-celled symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae in its tissues. These are photosynthetic and use energy from the sun to produce organic compounds from which the coral also benefits. Much of its energy needs are supplied in this way but it also extends its ring of short tentacles to catch plankton, feeding mostly at night. Scolymia lacera is an aggressive coral that attacks neighbouring corals that might deprive it of light. It does this by extruding filaments several centimetres long from its mesenteries. When these come in contact with another coral they secrete enzymes that in the course of several hours digest its soft tissues. Smaller corals may be killed by this attack while larger individuals may have the part within reach stripped back to the skeleton.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists this species as being critically endangered. Some of the factors affecting corals are a rise in sea temperature and consequent coral bleaching, increased severity of storms, ocean acidification, coral disease and various human impacts.

Source: Wikipedia: Scolymia lacera — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolymia_lacera (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.