WoRMS taxon details

Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis & Solander, 1786)

206954  (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:206954)

accepted
Species
Madrepora verrucosa Ellis & Solander, 1786 · unaccepted > superseded combination (basionym)
Pocillopora aspera var. danae Verrill, 1864 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pocillopora hemprichi Ehrenberg, 1834 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pocillopora hemprichii Ehrenberg, 1834 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
marine, fresh, terrestrial
(of Madrepora verrucosa Ellis & Solander, 1786) Ellis, J.; Solander, D. (1786). The Natural History of many curious and uncommon Zoophytes, collected from various parts of the Globe. Systematically arranged and described by the late Daniel Solander. 4.(Benjamin White & Son: London): 1-206, pls 1-63., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41943909 [details]  OpenAccess publication 
Description This species is distinguished from Pocillopora damicornis by having broader, club shaped or more flattened branches. It has...  
Description This species is distinguished from Pocillopora damicornis by having broader, club shaped or more flattened branches. It has true verrucae which are evenly sized and spaced. Pocillopora verrucosa occurs between the surface to 40 m deep. On fore reef slopes of moderate but not extreme exposure, it is extremely common, and helps to define clear coral communities in many sites. It is less tolerant of sedimented conditions than is P. damicornis so is much less abundant in lagoonal areas (Sheppard, 1998).
Colonies are composed of uniform upright branches clearly distinct from the verrucae, but the latter are irregular in size. They have permanently coloured red-brown stalks. Colour: Usually cream, pink or blue. Abundance: Common. Occurs in most shallow-water environments from fringing reefs to exposed reef fronts (Veron, 1986).
Colonies usually form hemispheres and grow in isolation. The stout branches (1-2 cm thick) radiate from a central holdfast and tend to be clubbed at their tips. Large verrucae up to 6 mm high, corallites 1 mm across. Colour: varies from pale lime-green or pink to dark brown or bluish-brown. Habitat: shallow reef areas (Richmond, 1997); rocks (Kalk, 1959).
Also distributed in Australia (Kalk, 1958).
Tropical Indo-Pacific in Kalk (1958). [details]
Hoeksema, B. W.; Cairns, S. (2024). World List of Scleractinia. Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis & Solander, 1786). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=206954 on 2024-04-23
Date
action
by
1996-10-25 12:24:58Z
created
2000-09-28 07:24:50Z
changed
Garcia, Maria
2008-01-16 10:35:54Z
changed
2014-03-29 20:29:36Z
changed
2022-05-10 10:52:12Z
changed

Creative Commons License The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License


original description  (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) Verrill, A. E. (1864). List of the polyps and corals sent by the Museum of Comparative Zoology to other institutions in exchange, with annotations. <em>Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.</em> 1: 29-60., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6587563 [details]   

original description  (of Pocillopora hemprichii Ehrenberg, 1834) Ehrenberg, C. G. (1834). Beiträge zur physiologischen Kenntniss der Corallenthiere im allgemeinen, und besonders des rothen Meeres, nebst einem Versuche zur physiologischen Systematik derselben. <em>Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin.</em> 1: 225-380., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29725862 [details]   

original description  (of Madrepora verrucosa Ellis & Solander, 1786) Ellis, J.; Solander, D. (1786). The Natural History of many curious and uncommon Zoophytes, collected from various parts of the Globe. Systematically arranged and described by the late Daniel Solander. 4.(Benjamin White & Son: London): 1-206, pls 1-63., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41943909 [details]  OpenAccess publication 

original description  (of Pocillopora aspera var. danae Verrill, 1864) Verrill, A. E. (1864). List of the polyps and corals sent by the Museum of Comparative Zoology to other institutions in exchange, with annotations. <em>Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.</em> 1: 29-60., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6587563 [details]   

context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS[details]   

basis of record Veron JEN. (1986). Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. <em>Angus & Robertson Publishers.</em>  [details]   

additional source Veron JEN, Pichon M. (1976). Scleractinia of Eastern Australia. Part I. Families Thamnasteriidae, Astroceoniidae, Pocilloporidae. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science Monograph Series.</em> 1: 1-86. [details]   

additional source Lamarck, J.-B. M. de. (1816). Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres. Tome second. <em>Paris. Verdière.</em> Vol. 2 pp. 1-568., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47698
page(s): 275 [details]  OpenAccess publication 

additional source Dunn, D.F., 1970. Some observations on marine life at Pulau Aur, Johore. Malay. Nat. J. 23 : 158-167.
page(s): 162 [details]   

additional source Hoffmeister, J.E. (1925). Some corals from America Samoa and the Fiji Islands. <em>Papers from the Department of Marine Biology of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.</em> 22: 1-90, pls. 1-23.
page(s): 17 [details]   

additional source Vaughan TW. (1918). Some shallow-water corals from Murray Island (Australia), Cocos-Keeling Island, and Fanning Island. <em>Papers from the Department of Marine Biology of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.</em> 9 (213): 49-234, pls. 20-93. [details]  OpenAccess publication 

additional source Quelch JJ. (1886). Report on the Reef-corals collected by H.M.S. 'Challenger' during the years 1873-76. <em>Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–1876. Zoology.</em> 16 (46): 1-203, pl. 1-12., available online at http://www.19thcenturyscience.org/HMSC/HMSC-Reports/Zool-46/README.htm
page(s): 28, 29, 30, 69, 201 [details]   

additional source Dana, J. D. (1846-1847). On Zoophytes. <em>The American Journal of Science and Arts, Second Series.</em> 2(4): 64-69; 2(5): 187-202; 3(7): 1-24; 3(8): 160-163; 3(9): 337-347. New-Haven., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28135503
page(s): 524, 528, 529, 531 [details]   

additional source Ehrenberg, C. G. (1834). Beiträge zur physiologischen Kenntniss der Corallenthiere im allgemeinen, und besonders des rothen Meeres, nebst einem Versuche zur physiologischen Systematik derselben. <em>Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin.</em> 1: 225-380., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29725862
page(s): 352 [details]   

additional source Cairns, S.D., B.W. Hoeksema & J. van der Land. (1999). Appendix: List of extant stony corals. <em>Atoll Research Bulletin.</em> 459: 13-46.
page(s): 37 [details]   

additional source Randall RH. (2003). An annotated checklist of hydrozoan and scleractinian corals collected from Guam and other Mariana Islands. <em>Micronesica.</em> 35-36: 121-137.
page(s): 127 [details]   

additional source Cairns, S.D., B.W. Hoeksema & J. van der Land. (2007). as a contribution to UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms. (look up in IMIS[details]   

additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS[details]  Available for editors  PDF available [request] 

additional source Veron JEN. (2000). Corals of the World. Vol. 1–3. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science and CRR, Queensland, Australia.</em>  [details]   

additional source Veron JEN. (2002). New species described in Corals of the World. <em>Australian Institute of Marine Science Monograph Series.</em> 11: 1-209.
page(s): 71, 72, 74 [details]   

additional source Umbgrove JHF. (1939). Madreporaria from the Bay of Batavia. <em>Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden.</em> 22: 1-64.
page(s): 9, 17, 22 [details]   

additional source Vaughan TW. (1907). Recent Madreporaria of the Hawaiian Islands and Laysan. <em>US National Museum Bulletin.</em> 59 (9): 1-427.
page(s): 7, 8, 84, 96, 99, 100, 424, 427 [details]   

additional source Yabe H, Sugiyama T, Eguchi M. (1936). Recent reef-building corals from Japan and the South Sea Islands under the Japanese mandate. I. <em>The Science reports of the Tôhoku Imperial University, Sendai, 2nd Series (Geologie).</em> Special Volume 1: 1-66, pls. 1-59.
page(s): 14 [details]   

additional source Yabe H, Sugiyama T. (1935). Revised list of the reef-corals from the Japanese seas and of the fossil reef corals of the raised reefs and the Ryukyu limestone of Japan. <em>Journal of the Geological Society of Japan.</em> 42: 379-403.
page(s): 392 [details]   

additional source Dana, J.D. (1846-1849). Zoophytes. United States Exploring Expedition during the years 1838-1842. <em>Lea and Blanchard, Philadelphia.</em> 7: 1-740, 61 pls. (1846: 1-120, 709-720; 1848: 121-708, 721-740; 1849: atlas pls. 1-61)., available online at http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/usexex/navigation/ScientificText/USExEx19_08select.cfm
page(s): 524, 528, 529, 531 [details]   

additional source Studer, T. (1879). Zweite Abtheilung der Anthozoa Polyactinia, welche während der Reise A. M. S. Corvette Gazelle um die Erde gesammelt wurden. <em>Monatsberichte der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin.</em> 1878: 525–550, pls. 1-5.
page(s): 539 [details]   

additional source Pillai CSG, Scheer G (1976) Report on the stony corals from the Maldive Archipelago. Results of the Xarifa Expedition 1957/58. Zoologica, Stuttgart 43 (126): 1-83, pls. 1-32. [details]   

additional source Crossland C (1952) Madreporaria, Hydrocorallinae, Heliopora and Tubipora. Scientific Report Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928-29 VI(3): 85-257.
page(s): 90, 99 [details]   

additional source Milne Edwards H (1860) Histoire naturelle des coralliaires ou polypes proprement dits 3: 1-560. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris. (look up in IMIS)
page(s): 305, 306, 540 [details]   

additional source Bassett-Smith, P.W. (1890). Report on the corals from Tizard and Macclesfield Banks, China Sea. <em>Annals and Magazine of Natural History,.</em> 6(35): 353-374, 443-458, pls. 12-14., available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939008694050
page(s): 357, 366 [details]   

additional source Ortmann, A. (1888). Studien über Systematik und geographische Verbreitung der Steinkorallen. <em>Zoologische Jahrbücher, Abtheilung für Systematik, Biologie und Biogeographie der Tiere.</em> 3: 143-188, pl. 6.
page(s): 163, 164 [details]   

additional source Schmidt-Roach S, Miller KJ, Lundgren P, Andreakis N (2014) With eyes wide open: a revision of species within and closely related to the Pocillopora damicornis species complex (Scleractinia; Pocilloporidae) using morphology and genetics. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 170: 1-33. [details]   

additional source Nemenzo, F. (1964). Systematic studies on Philippine shallow-water scleractinians: V. Suborder Astrocoeniida (Part. <em>Natural and Applied Science Bulletin, University of the Philippines.</em> 18: 193-223.
page(s): 194, 209 [details]   

additional source Gardiner JS (1897) On some collections of corals of the family Pocilloporidae from the S.W. Pacific-Ocean. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1897: 941-953, pls. 56-57. [details]   

additional source Glynn PW (1999) Pocillopora inflata, a new species of scleractinian coral (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from the tropical eastern Pacific. Pacific Science 53: 168-180.
page(s): 176 [details]   

additional source Pichon, M.; Benzoni, F. (2007). Taxonomic re-appraisal of zooxanthellate Scleractinian Corals in the Maldive Archipelago. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 1441: 21–33.
page(s): 27 [details]   

additional source Kitahara, M.V., J. Stolarski, S.D. Cairns, F. Benzoni, J.L. Stake & D.J. Miller. (2012). The first modern solitary Agariciidae (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) revealed by molecular and microstructural analysis. <em>Invertebrate Systematics.</em> 26 (3): 303-315., available online at https://doi.org/10.1071/is11053
page(s): 305, 307 [details]  Available for editors  PDF available [request] 

additional source Reyes-Bonilla, H. (2002). Checklist of valid names and synonyms of stony corals (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) from the eastern Pacific. <em>Journal of Natural History.</em> 36(1): 1-13., available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/713833841 [details]   

additional source Faustino LA. (1927). Recent Madreporaria of the Philippine Islands. <em>Bureau of Science Manila Monograph.</em> 22: 1-310, pls. 1-100.
page(s): 10, 27, 31, 39, 104-105 [details]   

additional source Veron JEN, Marsh LM. (1988). Hermatypic corals of Western Australia : records and annotated species list. <em>Records Western Australian Museum Supplement.</em> 29: 1-136., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.60555
page(s): 33, 36 [details]   

additional source Durham JW. (1962). Corals from the Galapagos and Cocos Islands. <em>Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series.</em> 32 (2): 41-56.
page(s): 42, 45, 46, 48-49 [details]   

additional source Pillai CSG. (1972). Stony corals of the seas around India. <em>Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Corals and Coral Reefs, 1969. Marine Biological Association of India Symposium.</em> 5: 191-216.
page(s): 198 [details]   

additional source Whitelegge, T. (1898). The Madroporaria of Funafuti. <em>The Australian Museum Memoir.</em> 3(6): 349-368.
page(s): 352 [details]   

additional source Randall RH, Myers RF. (1983). The corals. Guide to the Coastal Resources of Guam: Vol. 2. <em>University of Guam Press, Guam, pp. 128.</em>  [details]   

additional source Veron, J. E. N. (2000). Corals of the World, Volume II: Families Astrocoeniidae, Pocilloporidae, Euphyllidae, Oculinidae, Meandrinidae, Siderastreidae, Agariciidae, Fungiidae, Rhizangiidae, Pectiniidae, Merulinidae, Dendrophylliidae, Caryophylliidae. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Townsville., volume 2, pp. 429.
page(s): 28-29 [details]   

additional source Ryland, J. S. (1981). Reefs of southwest Viti Levu and their tourism potential. Proceedings of the Fourth International Coral Reef Symposium, 1, 293-298
page(s): 296-297 [details]   

additional source Maragos, J. E.; Molina, M.; Kenyon, J. (2004). Palmyra Atoll coral data compiled from Townsend Cromwell 2000-2002, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000-2001, and Sette 2004 surveys [Table 8]. UNPUBLISHED, UNPUBLISHED [details]   

additional source Maragos, J. E.; Schmerfeld, J. (2004). Coral survey from Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1998-2004 [Table 3]. UNPUBLISHED, Unpublished
page(s): 1 [details]   

additional source Maragos, J. E.; Kenyon, J. (2004). Rose Atoll coral data compiled from US Fish and Wildlife Service 1994, Townsend Cromwell 2002, and Sette 2004 surveys [Table 10]. UNPUBLISHED, Unpublished
page(s): 1 [details]   

additional source Maragos, J. E. (2004). Baker Island coral data [Table unnumbered]. UNPUBLISHED, Unpublished
page(s): 2 [details]   

additional source Wells JW. (1954). Recent corals of the Marshall Islands: Bikini and nearby atolls, part 2, oceanography (biologic). <em>U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper.</em> 260(I): 385-486.
page(s): 390, 413, plate 98 [details]   

additional source Pillai CSG. (1983). Structure and generic diversity of recent Scleractinia of India. <em>Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India.</em> 25, 1-2, 78-90.
page(s): 84 [details]   

additional source Sheppard, C. R. C. (1985). Fringing reefs in the southern region, Jeddah to Jizan. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 7, 37-58
page(s): 45 [details]   

additional source Sheppard, C. R. C.; Sheppard, A. L. S. (1985). The central Red Sea at Yanbu al Sinaiyah. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 7, 17-36
page(s): 25, 27, 28  [details]   

additional source Studer T. (1879). Übersicht der Anthozoa Alcyonaria, welche während der Reise S.M.S. Gazelle um die Erde gesammelt wurden. <em>Monatsberichte der könglich preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin.</em> 1878, 632-688.
page(s): 680 [details]   

additional source Eckelbarger, K. J.; Hand, C. H.; Uhlinger, K. R. (2008). Ultrastructural features of the trophonema and oogenesis in the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis (Edwardsiidae). Invertebrate Biology, 127(4): 3810395
page(s): 391 [details]   

additional source Gori, A.; Linares, C.; Rossi, S.; Coma, R.; Gili, J. (2007). Spatial variability in reproductive cycle of the gorgonians Paramuricea clavata and Eunicella singularis (Anthozoa, Octocorallia) in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Marine Biology, 151, 1571-1584
page(s): 1580 [details]   

additional source Hirose, M.; Obuchi, M.; Hirose, E.; Reimer, J. D. (2011). Timing of spawning and early development of Palythoa tuberculosa (Anthozoa, Zoantharia, Sphenopidae) in Okinawa, Japan. Biological Bulletin, 220(23-31): 23-31
page(s): 29 [details]   

additional source Kühlmann, D. H. H. (2006). Die Steinkorallensammlung im Naturhistorischen Museum in Rudolstadt (Thüringen) nebst ökologischen Bemerkungen. Rudolstädter Naturhistorische Schriften, 13, 37-113
page(s): 54, 61, 66, 107, 113 [details]   

additional source Benayahu, Y.; Schleyer, M. H. (1998). Reproduction in Anthelia glauca (Octocorallia: Xeniidae). II. Transmission of algal symbionts during planular brooding. Marine Biology, 131, 433-442
page(s): 434 [details]   

additional source Wallace, C. C.; Fellegara, I.; Muir, P. R.; Harrison, P. L. (2009). The scleractinian corals of Moreton Bay, eastern Australia: high latitude, marginal assemblages with increasing species richness. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 54, 2
page(s): 7 [details]   

additional source Dana, J. D. (1849). Atlas. Zoophytes. C. Sherman. Philadelphia., pp. 12-01
page(s): 10, 529 [details]   
 
 Present  Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio   Inaccurate  Introduced: alien  Containing type locality 
   

Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-349 [details]
Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-439, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-488, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-54, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-779, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-788, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype (of Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864) MSI C-791 [details]
Nontype BMNH, geounit Chinese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype BMNH, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 39955, geounit Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 40186, geounit Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 41389, geounit Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 44900, geounit Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 47857, geounit Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 48713, geounit Marshall Islands Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 48715, geounit Marshall Islands Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 48717, geounit Marshall Islands Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 48757, geounit Marshall Islands Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 50741, geounit Palau Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 50785, geounit Micronesian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype IGPS 53619, geounit Micronesian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype MSI C-309, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype MSI C-311, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype MSI C-314, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype MSI C-791 [details]
Nontype MSI C-805, geounit Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype NMSR 8542, geounit Sudanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype NMSR 8543, geounit Sudanese Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype NMSR 8985, geounit Indian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype NMSR I/406/E3 [details]
Nontype NMSR I/538/E3 [details]
Nontype NMSR I/543/E3 [details]
Nontype NMSR K2 [details]
Nontype NMSR K3 [details]
Nontype NMSR K4 [details]
Nontype NMSR K5 [details]
Nontype WAM 203-73, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 208-81, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 224-83, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 232-83, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 24-78, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 2-72, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 2-81, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 355-78, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 3-72, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 382-83, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 529-79, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 533-85, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 556-79, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 556-85, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 571-79, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 572-79, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 573-79, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 70-72, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 809-86, geounit Ashmore-Cartier Is. [details]
Nontype WAM 81-78, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 93-73, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 96-73, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 98-73, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Nontype WAM 99-73, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Unknown type MSI C-782 [details]
Unknown type NMSR 8867, geounit Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Unknown type NMSR 8984, geounit Indian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
Unknown type WAM 396-80, geounit Australian Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
From editor or global species database
Biology zooxanthellate [details]

From other sources
Description This species is distinguished from Pocillopora damicornis by having broader, club shaped or more flattened branches. It has true verrucae which are evenly sized and spaced. Pocillopora verrucosa occurs between the surface to 40 m deep. On fore reef slopes of moderate but not extreme exposure, it is extremely common, and helps to define clear coral communities in many sites. It is less tolerant of sedimented conditions than is P. damicornis so is much less abundant in lagoonal areas (Sheppard, 1998).
Colonies are composed of uniform upright branches clearly distinct from the verrucae, but the latter are irregular in size. They have permanently coloured red-brown stalks. Colour: Usually cream, pink or blue. Abundance: Common. Occurs in most shallow-water environments from fringing reefs to exposed reef fronts (Veron, 1986).
Colonies usually form hemispheres and grow in isolation. The stout branches (1-2 cm thick) radiate from a central holdfast and tend to be clubbed at their tips. Large verrucae up to 6 mm high, corallites 1 mm across. Colour: varies from pale lime-green or pink to dark brown or bluish-brown. Habitat: shallow reef areas (Richmond, 1997); rocks (Kalk, 1959).
Also distributed in Australia (Kalk, 1958).
Tropical Indo-Pacific in Kalk (1958). [details]

Remark Type locality: Not recorded (Veron, 1986).
In family 'Seriatoporidae' in Kalk (1958). [details]
LanguageName 
English warty bushcoralcauliflower coral  [details]
German Warzige Buschkoralle  [details]
Japanese イボハダハナヤサイサンゴ  [details]