Horn stony coral

Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) ambrosia

Corals and anemones
IUCN: Not evaluated

Usual depth421–2,115 m
Water temperature7–30 °C
Best monthsMay, June, and July
How commonOccasional

All species

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 18 records
February: 31 records
March: 41 records
April: 55 records
May: 109 records
June: 87 records
July: 143 records
August: 83 records
September: 33 records
October: 80 records
November: 65 records
December: 43 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 421–2,115 m · Deepest record: 3,380 m

20–30 m: 1 records
30–40 m: 2 records
40–50 m: 2 records
50–60 m: 0 records
60–70 m: 0 records
70–80 m: 0 records
80–90 m: 0 records
90–100 m: 2 records
100–110 m: 0 records
110–120 m: 2 records
120–130 m: 0 records
130+ m: 1,109 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 7–30 °C

6–8 °C: 1 records
8–10 °C: 9 records
10–12 °C: 8 records
12–14 °C: 7 records
14–16 °C: 70 records
16–18 °C: 77 records
18–20 °C: 58 records
20–22 °C: 56 records
22–24 °C: 46 records
24–26 °C: 159 records
26–28 °C: 237 records
28–30 °C: 206 records

Names and classification

English: Horn stony coral, Horn Coral, horn stony coral

Names in 1 more languages

French: scléractiniaire ambrosiaque

Other scientific names: Caryophyllia ambrosia

Similar species

Devonshire cup coral
Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) smithii
Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) diomedeae
Caryophyllia (Acanthocyathus) grayi
Caryophyllia (Acanthocyathus) spinicarens
Caryophyllia (Acanthocyathus) spinigera
Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) crosnieri

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
1,358 open-data records from 1873 to 2018.
Species data updated October 26, 2026.

Log what you see on your next dive

The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.

Join the waitlist