Hexacorallia |
Scleractinia |
Pocilloporidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Reef-associated; depth range 0 - 26 m (Ref. 269), usually 1 - 15 m (Ref. 98471). Tropical; 36°N - 35°S, 32°E - 10°E (Ref. 847)
Indo-Pacific and Western Central Atlantic: East to Hawaii and Panama, south to Lord Howe Island, west to Red Sea, and north to Japan.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 30.0 cm DL male/unsexed; (Ref. 269)
Colonies: Ramose, covered with varrucae; corallites plocoid, less than 1 mm across, found both on varrucae and in between. Tendency of corallites to become cerioid near branch tips. Septa: poorly developed, in 2 cycles, may be reduced to a row to a row of spines. Peritheca: echinulate. Columella: Free. Thickness of branches may vary with exposure to water movement and depth. Colonies growing in shallow water or exposed to wave action: Have thick sturdy branches. Colonies from deep calm waters tend to have thin fragile branches. Color: Mottled brown in life.
Fisheries: Used directly as construction material, to make lime, used to make concrete, and to sell as curios; Live coral collected for aquarium trade; no report of direct consumption as food (Ref. 269). Maximum depth from Ref. 83917. Can be found in shallow waters (Ref. 122680). Forms low, compact colonies; in mono-specific or multi-species reefs throughout its range from shallow depths until 20 m; common, relatively tolerant of sedimentation and low salinity as long as there is adequate water motion (Ref. 269). Also in mangrove swamps and wharf piles (Ref. 98471). Has variable (0-50%) bleaching level and low estimated mortality in Palau (Ref. 66144).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hermaphroditic (Ref. 113712). Reproduce by fragmentation and sexual reproduction (i.e., broadcast spawning) (Ref. 269).
Hodgson, G. 1998 Corals. p. 101-122. In Carpenter, K.E. and V.H. Niem (eds) FAO species identifidication guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 1. Seaweeds, coral, bivalves and gastropods. FAO Rome. (Ref. 269)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest
| FishSource |
Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)Diet compositionFood consumptionPredators Population dynamicsGrowthMax. ages / sizesLength-weight rel.Length-length rel.Length-frequenciesMass conversionAbundance PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 24.7 - 29.2, mean 27.8 (based on 2460 cells).
Fishing Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (20 of 100).
Price category
Unknown.
