Elkhorn coral colony
An elkhorn coral colony is a branching formation of the coral species Acropora palmata, found in shallow Caribbean reefs.
Also known as: elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata colony
How big is it?
2 m · defined colony width
Also 6.562 ft
Defined colony width · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 1 m to 3.5 m.
A little perspective
Elkhorn coral colony vs Pyrosome colony: length comparison
The colony width of an elkhorn coral colony is approximately equal to the colony length of a pyrosome colony.
An elkhorn coral colony is a branching formation of the coral species Acropora palmata, found in shallow Caribbean reefs.
A pyrosome is a hollow, free-floating colony of many small filter-feeding tunicates joined in a tube.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Elkhorn coral colony
Defined colony width: 2 m; defined specimen; range 1 m–3.5 m.
A defined mature elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) colony 2 m wide and 1.2 m high. Branch growth and breakage produce irregular colonies; the basal reef substrate is excluded from both spans.
NOAA Fisheries — Elkhorn coral
The marked defined colony width is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Pyrosome colony
Defined colony length: 2 m; defined specimen; range 30 cm–4 m.
A defined 2 m long, 30 cm wide free-swimming pyrosome colony. Thousands of zooids form its hollow gelatinous tube; species and colony age produce sizes from centimetres to several metres.
The marked defined colony length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 2 m
We compare the colony width of an elkhorn coral colony. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same. The recorded range is 1 m to 3.5 m.
A defined mature elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) colony 2 m wide and 1.2 m high. Branch growth and breakage produce irregular colonies; the basal reef substrate is excluded from both spans.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 m | 1 m to 3.5 m | defined specimen | |
| 1.2 m | 60 cm to 2 m | defined specimen |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueLiving thingsBrain coral colony1.5 mDefined colony diameterA brain coral colony is a living mound-shaped formation of coral polyps that secrete a grooved, dome-like calcium carbonate skeleton.
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Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NOAA Fisheries — Elkhorn coralBranching anatomy, habitat and colony-scale growth of Acropora palmata.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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