staghorn coral

noun

stag·​horn coral ˈstag-ˌhȯrn- How to pronounce staghorn coral (audio)
: any of several large branching corals (genus Acropora, especially A. cervicornis) that somewhat resemble antlers

Illustration of staghorn coral

Illustration of staghorn coral

Examples of staghorn coral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Palacio said the region saw widespread mortality of elkhorn and staghorn corals, two species that have been the focus of restoration efforts. Evan Bush, NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024 In This Article Local Excursions On-site Amenities The Location Cutting into the piece of staghorn coral felt like sacrilege. Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2023 Today, thanks to the efforts of Fragments of Hope, other community partners and the government of Belize, the caye is surrounded by abundant staghorn coral and serves as an example of the power of local conservation. Katharine Hayhoe, Scientific American, 14 July 2023 Hung on a tree structure, the staghorn coral shown here will have a better chance of surviving and being transplanted back onto a reef. Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 29 July 2015 According to research published by the University of Florida, climate change, human stressors and stony coral tissue loss disease have greatly reduced the staghorn coral’s presence in southeast Florida. Olivia Lloyd, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2022 Jupiter — Just 150 fragments of staghorn coral planted off Florida’s shore might give new hope to the state’s endangered reefs. Olivia Lloyd, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2022 Year after year, the staghorn coral will grow and be trimmed and out-planted on the reef. Ross Kenneth Urken, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2022 Acropora is a genus of common stony corals comprising table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral, along with others. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of staghorn coral was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near staghorn coral

Cite this Entry

“Staghorn coral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/staghorn%20coral. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on staghorn coral

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!