Elkhorn Coral
| Name: | Elkhorn Coral |
| Scientific Name: | Acropora palmata |
| Family: | Branching Corals |
| Scientific Family: | Acroporidae |
| Source: | WoRMS AphiaID 288227 |
| Size: | up to 12 ft. |
| Depth Range: | In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen sometimes |
Elkhorn Coral has flat branches shaped like the antlers of a moose or elk. Small, tube-shaped corallites cover its surface. Its color ranges from brown to yellow-brown or orange, often with pale tips. White corallites at the ends of its outer branches give the edges a white outline. Its branches grow outward from a sturdy base.
Elkhorn Coral grows in shallow water with strong waves, often covering large areas close to shore. Its branches grow in the direction of the water movement and are short, thick and rounded in areas with strong waves. It grows quickly under ideal conditions, adding 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm) per year. Its polyps are usually pulled in during the day.
On Bonaire, Elkhorn Coral suffered major losses from White Band Disease in the early 1980s, and more recently from severe coral bleaching and heat stress.