Puerto Rico Dive Sites

Star corals (Orbicella)

Orbicella annularis complex (O. annularis, O. faveolata, O. franksi) · Also called: boulder star coral, lobed star coral, mountainous star coral, Corales estrella (Orbicella), coral estrella de peñasco

Protection: Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.[1]

Facts

  • Three look-alike species, lobed, mountainous and boulder star coral, were treated as one until the early 1990s.[1]
  • Boulder star coral, also listed as threatened, forms massive lumpy clumps, orange-brown, greenish-brown or gray-brown with pale tips on the lumps.[2]
  • Historically one of the main builders of Caribbean reef framework. They grow slowly, about 1 cm a year, and colonies can live for centuries.[3]
  • Harvest of corals is banned in federal waters around Puerto Rico.[4]

Where it's been reported (1)

From the sources on each dive site's page. Sightings are never guaranteed.

  • Isla de Ratones (Cabo Rojo) · West Coast“starlet coral (Siderastrea), boulder star coral (Orbicella annularis), large star coral (Montastraea cavernosa)” (NOAA Restoration Center (Community-based Restoration Program) with Inter American University of PR, Comité Caborrojeños pro Salud y Ambiente, Gulf of Mexico Foundation)

Sources

  1. Lobed Star Coral · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)
  2. Boulder Star Coral · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)
  3. Mountainous Star Coral · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)
  4. Seasonal and Area Fishing Closures in the U.S. Caribbean · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)

Last checked 2026-10-22