Mountainous Star Coral

Massive colonies of mountainous star coral form the structural backbone of the Playa Brava reef, with some heads exceeding two metres in diameter representing centuries of growth. This species is a primary reef builder across the Caribbean and serves as critical habitat for dozens of fish species that shelter within its crevices and along its flanks. Long-term monitoring has shown that Tayrona's park status has helped protect these colonies from anchor damage and sedimentation that have degraded unprotected reefs along the Colombian coast.