Black Coral
Antipathes caribbeana
Sighting evidence at New Guinea Reef, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Black coral trees at New Guinea Reef reach 2 metres in height at depths below 20 metres, representing decades of slow growth in the current-swept environment of the wall face. Despite their name, living black coral polyps are white or translucent; the commercially valued black skeleton is only revealed when the living tissue is removed. These colonies are essential habitat for longnose hawkfish, golden crinoids, and numerous cryptic shrimp species that live within their branches.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Black Coral is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.