Boulder Star Coral

Orbicella franksi

Sighting evidence at Flat Island Reef, Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin

Massive boulder star coral heads up to 3 m across dominate the mid-depth reef structures at Flat Island, representing centuries of slow accretion and a cornerstone of the reef's three-dimensional architecture. Their health at this site, with minimal bleaching scarring compared to more visited reefs, reflects the lower human pressure the eastern exposure affords.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Boulder Star Coral is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.