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Dead elkhorn coral near Elbow Reef off the coast of Key Largo

Critical Florida corals now ‘functionally extinct’ due to off-the-charts ocean temperatures

By Laura Paddison, CNN (CNN) — Elkhorn and staghorn corals used to carpet Florida’s reef system, rising like antlers from the seabed — but not anymore. These crucial coral species are now “functionally extinct” in the region after record-breaking ocean temperatures, according to a study published Thursday. The corals, which have been dominant reef builders

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