Ivory Tree Coral (Oculina varicosa)
Ivory Tree Coral: Photo credit NMFS
Key Information
Ivory tree coral was identified as a Candidate Species in 1991 (56 FR 2679) and transferred to the Species of Concern list on April 15, 2004 (69 FR 19975).
Brief Species Description
Oculina varicosa ranges from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, though the main population of concern is off east-central Florida, where it forms unique, thicket-type structures in 230 to 330 ft (710-100 m) depth, known as the Oculina banks. Colonies are arborescent, with highly clumped, irregular, bushy branches. Branches average one-fourth of an inch (6 mm) in diameter and colonies can by 4 to 5 ft (1.5 m) tall. Corallites are distributed in spiral around the branches, and each corallite if approximately 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) in diameter. For more information, please see the species fact sheet below.
Status Review
October 20, 2009: Center for Biological Diversity Petition to List 83 Corals
February 10, 2010: 90-day finding on a petition to list 83 species of coral, including Oculina vericosa (50 FR 6616)
- NMFS determined that “the petition fails to present substantial scientific or commercial information to suggest that the petition action may be warranted for O. vericosa”
Area of Concern / SOC Range
Oculina Banks – East Florida
Ivory Tree Coral SOC Range Map
Publications / Supplemental Information
NOAA’s Undersea Research Program Leads to Preservation of the Ivory Tree Coral in Florida’s Oculina Banks
NOAA Ecosystem Assessment Division: Cold Water Corals or Deep Sea Corals
Species Fact Sheet
Conservation Designations
