Like its name suggests, staghorn coral is a species of coral that looks a bit like the antlers of a male deer. Capable of growing into thickets up to five feet high and more than 30 feet across, staghorn corals produce long, cylindrical branches out of bases anchored to the ocean floor.

Staghorn corals can grow up to two inches a year, making it relatively fast-growing. Colors range from dark gray and brown to more vibrant pinks, purples, and blues.

Staghorn corals occur in shallow tropical reefs, slopes, and lagoons from Israel and Jordan to the eastern coast of Africa and all the way out to islands in the Pacific, such as Vanuatu and Kiribati. The animals