Scientists have confirmed that two of Florida’s most iconic reef-building corals — elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) — are now functionally extinct off the state’s coast. 🪸💔 While a few scattered colonies still survive, their numbers are now too low and isolated to reproduce effectively or sustain the reef ecosystem they once built. Once the backbone of Florida’s shallow reefs, these corals provided vital shelter for marine life and natural protection f

Endangered staghorn coral in the Coral Restoration Foundation's coral nursery in Key Largo spawned last night at 10:40 p.m.! Teams from the Aquarium and our conservation partners sprang into action to collect the coral gametes. This research will one day restore declining reefs in coastal Florida and the Caribbean! This spawn was performed under permitted action. #CoralSpawn2017 -with Georgia Aquarium, Akron Zoo, South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation, SeaWorld, and Columbus Zoo