Sunset cup coral  (Leptopsammia pruvoti)

In U.K. waters the sunset cup coral reaches the northern limit of its range. This means it probably exists here at the limit of the environmental extremes it can tolerate. Consequently, it may be particularly susceptible to relatively small changes in its environment. For example, slight drops in water temperature may prevent successful reproduction. Populations at Lundy may fail to successfully recruit new corals as Lundy is a small island swept by strong currents. Thus larvae may be carried away before they are able to settle on suitable rock.

The sunset cup coral has been targeted as a priority species by UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The Species Action Plan that results from this process aims to improve current understanding of the life history, range and numbers of the species and to maintain the extent and numbers of all populations discovered by 2004 (1).