IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
VU
Vulnerable
Red List Criteria
A4ce
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2008
Assessor/s
Aeby, G., Delbeek, J.C., Lovell, E., Richards, Z., Reboton, C. & Bass, D.
Reviewer/s
Livingstone, S., Polidoro, B. & Smith, J. (Global Marine Species Assessment)
Contributor/s
Justification
This species is widespread and uncommon throughout its range. It is particularly susceptible to bleaching, disease, crown-of-thorns starfish predation and extensive reduction of coral reef habitat due to a combination of threats. Specific population trends are unknown but population reduction can be inferred from declines in habitat quality based on the combined estimates of both destroyed reefs and reefs at the critical stage of degradation within its range (Wilkinson 2004). Its threat susceptibility increases the likelihood of being lost within one generation in the future from reefs at a critical stage. Therefore, the estimated habitat degradation and loss of 33% over three generation lengths (30 years) is the best inference of population reduction and meets the threshold for Vulnerable under Criterion A4ce. It will be important to reassess this species in 10 years time because of predicted threats from climate change and ocean acidification.
