Cockscomb cup coral

Desmophyllum dianthus

Corals and anemones
IUCN: Least concern

Usual depth270–1,544 m
Water temperature2–28 °C
Best monthsJune and September
How commonCommon

All species

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

Loading the map

Best months

Worldwide (open data)

January: 135 records
February: 153 records
March: 177 records
April: 181 records
May: 88 records
June: 2,306 records
July: 867 records
August: 1,287 records
September: 1,615 records
October: 488 records
November: 185 records
December: 160 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 270–1,544 m · Deepest record: 3,383 m

0–10 m: 6 records
10–20 m: 1 records
20–30 m: 56 records
30–40 m: 62 records
40–50 m: 13 records
50–60 m: 1 records
60–70 m: 2 records
70–80 m: 5 records
80–90 m: 10 records
90–100 m: 21 records
100–110 m: 15 records
110+ m: 8,582 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 2–28 °C

2–4 °C: 4 records
4–6 °C: 10 records
6–8 °C: 12 records
8–10 °C: 34 records
10–12 °C: 61 records
12–14 °C: 214 records
14–16 °C: 242 records
16–18 °C: 296 records
18–20 °C: 48 records
20–22 °C: 16 records
22–24 °C: 18 records
24–26 °C: 22 records
26–28 °C: 7 records
28–30 °C: 4 records

Names and classification

English: Cockscomb cup coral, Cockscomb stony coral, cockscomb cup coral, cockscomb stony coral

Names in 2 more languages

Spanish: Coral cresta de gallo
French: scléractiniaire à crête

Other scientific names: Caryophyllia dianthus, Desmophyllum capense, Desmophyllum costatum, Desmophyllum cristagalli, Desmophyllum cumingi, Desmophyllum cumingii, Desmophyllum ingens, Desmophyllum reflexum, Desmophyllum serpuliforme, Gardineria capense, Gardineria capensis, Madrepora dianthus, Mussa dianthus, Thalassiotrochus telegraphicus

Similar species

Deepwater coral
Desmophyllum pertusum
Desmophyllum hourigani
Devonshire cup coral
Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) smithii
Prolific coral
Anomocora fecunda
Horn stony coral
Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) ambrosia
Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) diomedeae

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).
9,756 open-data records from 1870 to 2025.
Species data updated November 2, 2026.

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