Yellow Cup Black Coral | Oceana
Home / Yellow Cup Black Coral
Marine Life Encyclopedia > Corals and Other Invertebrates > Yellow Cup Black Coral

Yellow Cup Black Coral

Black corals are some of the oldest corals found in the oceans — dating back almost 2,000 years! While its skeleton is black, its colored polyps give this coral its yellow appearance.  

 

The yellow cup black coral lives mostly in the warm waters of the East Pacific Ocean, from the Gulf of California to Peru. Like most black corals, they prefer deeper waters down to 200 meters (656.2 feet), although they can also be found in waters as shallow as 10 meters (32.8 feet). Studies have found that yellow cup black coral colonies can range from 4-140 centimeters (1.6-55.1 inches) tall, with larger sizes tending to be found in deeper waters.  

Black corals prefer to live in areas with strong currents and low light. Because it can live below where sunlight reaches, the yellow black cup coral cannot rely on photosynthetic symbiotic algae to provide energy like shallow-water corals can. Instead, it is a suspension feeder, meaning they obtain food from the surrounding water column, and their diets consist mostly of zooplankton. Black corals provide valuable habitat for a variety of animals their home amongst the coral’s branches.  Because they grow slowly and live extremely long lives, these corals are highly susceptible to changes in their environment. 

 

 

Black corals have been exploited historically for jewelry and medicinal purposes. Since the 1980s, the international trade of black corals has been heavily regulated. Since this species prefers to live in colder waters, rising ocean temperatures also pose a threat to the survival of this species. 

 

 

The yellow cup black coral is an essential player in establishing marine biodiversity. Protecting deep sea habitats from damaging practices like bottom trawling helps preserve these ancient species for future generations.  

Learn more about Oceana’s campaign against bottom trawling here.  

 

 

  • Agarwal M, Lamb RW, Smith F, and Witman JD. (2024). Distribution and ecology of shallow‑water black corals across a depth gradient on Galápagos rocky reefs. Coral Reefs 43: 733-745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02497-6 
  • Bilan M, Gori A, Grinyó J, Biel-Cabanelas M, et al. (2023) Vulnerability of six cold-water corals to sediment resuspension from bottom trawling fishing. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 196: 115423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115423 
  • Lavorato A, Stranges S, and Bonilla HR. (2021) Potential Distribution and Environmental Niche of the Black Corals Antipathes galapagensis and Myriopathes panamensis in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Pacific Science 71: 129-145. https://doi.org/10.2984/75.1.6 
  • Prouty NG, Roark EB, Buster NA, and Ross SW. (2011) Growth rate and age distribution of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series 423: 101-115. DOI:10.3354/meps08953 
  • Rabasco F, Munguia-Vega A, Raick X, et al. (2025) Black coral patches and reef fish diversity: An integrative multidisciplinary approach. Marine Environmental Research 211(107401). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107401 
  • Wagner D, Luck DG, and Toonen RJ. (2012) Chapter Two – The Biology and Ecology of Black Corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Antipatharia). Advances in Marine Biology 63: 67-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-394282-1.00002-8 

 

GET INVOLVED

DONATE TODAY

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean.

DONATE

TAKE ACTION NOW

SUPPORT POLICY CHANGE FOR THE OCEANS

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

ACT NOW

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

SHOP THE STORE

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

LEARN MORE

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

MORE CAMPAIGNS

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-569-4895
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: