Lophelia
| Lophelia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Caryophylliidae |
| Genus: | Lophelia Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1849 |
| Species: | L. pertusa |
| Binomial name | |
| Lophelia pertusa | |
| Known range (NOAA) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Lophelia pertusa, the only species in the genus Lophelia, is a cold-water coral that grows in the deep waters throughout the North Atlantic ocean, as well as parts of the Caribbean Sea and Alboran Sea. Although L. pertusa reefs are home to a diverse community, the species is extremely slow growing and may be harmed by destructive fishing practices, or oil exploration and extraction.