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Updated 7/9/2023

Family Pocilloporidae

Cauliflower, Lace, & Antler Corals

These coral have rough, solid skeletons pitted by tiny calices.  They inhabit areas exposed to surf, surge, or current.   Colony shape varies considerably according to physical factors and can be difficult to identify in some situations.  Unlike other coral families the calices of most Pocillopora are identical.  The Cauliflower coral group is taxonomically confused and in need of review.

All coral skeletons illustrated are from scientific collections taken prior to 1998.

 



Video of spawning Cauliflower corals in Hawaii, by Robert Swisher

 

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Pocillopora ligulata 

HAWAIIAN CAULIFLOWER CORAL

 

Pocillopora molokensis  endemic.gif (1686 bytes)

MOLOKA'I CAULIFLOWER CORAL

 

 

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Pocillopora damicornis

LACE CORAL

 

Pocillopora acuta

PRICKLY LACE CORAL

 

Pocillopora meandrina

CAULIFLOWER CORAL

 

Pocillopora verrucosa

WARTY CAULIFLOWER CORAL

 

Pocillopora grandis

ANTLER CORAL

 

 

 


INDO-PACIFIC

Seriatopora hystrix

SPINY SERIATOPORA

 

Seriatopora stellata

RIDGED SERIATOPORA

 

Seriatopora guttatus

PROSTRATE SERIATOPORA

 

Seriatopora caliendrum

BLUNT SERIATOPORA

Stylophora pistillata

PESTLE STYLOPHORA

 

Stylophora subseriata

DWARF STYLOPHORA

Pocillopora elegans

ELEGANT CAULIFLOWER CORAL

 

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Pocillopora capitata

SWOLLEN CAULIFLOWER CORAL