Pocillopora damicornis
©Andy: A macro image of Pocillopora damicornis showing the typical structure of corallites and veruccae
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Class
Anthozoa
Order
Scleractinia
Family
Pocilloporidae
Genus
Pocillopora
Species
Pocillopora damicornis
Status
least concern
Colours
Distinguishing features
A coral that forms compact bushes with short, irregular bracnches. Verrucae are present on the surface of the colony, giving it a "warty" appearance. Corallites are small and embedded. Colour is typically light brown or pink.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Synonyms
Distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Protected lagoons and back reef margins.
Behaviour
Pocillopora damicornis is a common and geographically widepsread species that frequently colonises disturbed areas of reef, sometimes forming large stands of small colonies.
Like other Pocilloporids, it has a flexible reproductive mode, with broadcast spawning, brooding of planula larvae, and asexual production of planuae all demonstrated in various parts of its range.
Web resources
References
- Ayre, D.J. and K.J. Miller (2004). Where do clonal coral larvae go? Adult genotypic diversity conflicts with reproductive effort in the brooding coral Pocillopora damicornis, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 277: 95-105.
- Baird, A.H., J.R. Guest and B.L. Willis (2009). Systematic and biogeographical patterns in the reproductive biology of scleractinian corals, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 40: 551-571.
- Coker, D.J., N.A.J. Graham and M.S. Pratchett (2012). Interactive effects of live coral and structural complexity on the recruitment of reef fishes. Coral Reefs, 31: 919-927. LIRS catalog number 1563.
- View all references