Pocillopora elegans
A colonial stony coral endangered by bleaching and disease.
Pocillopora elegans is a colonial stony coral from the family Pocilloporidae. It forms small clumps of short, thick, mostly erect branches with flattened tips. The coral’s surface is covered in smooth, rounded lobes called verrucae—lumpy skeletal outgrowths that contain several corallites—which give this genus its characteristic look. The corallites themselves are flat, very small, and scattered across the skeleton. Its color varies, often appearing as cream, pink, or greenish-brown. Similar species include *Pocillopora verrucosa* (which has rougher verrucae), *Pocillopora grandis*, and *Pocillopora capitata*.
This coral is native to the tropical Pacific Ocean, ranging from peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra through the Central Pacific to Mexico, Central America, the Galapagos Islands, and Colombia. It lives in shallow reef environments down to about 20 meters deep. Before the 1982–1983 El Niño–Southern Oscillation event, *P. elegans*—along with *Pocillopora damicornis*—was one of the strongest and most vigorous reef-building corals in the eastern Pacific. After that event, it vanished from many of its former locations, though some recruitment has since occurred in Costa Rica, Panama, and the Galapagos Islands. The reefs it inhabits are generally under threat, and the species is particularly vulnerable to bleaching, coral diseases, and predation by crown-of-thorns starfish. Because of these pressures, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed it as endangered.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Pocillopora
- Species
- elegans
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pocillopora elegans forms small clumps of short, thick, mostly erect branches with flattened tips. Its surface has smooth rounded lobes known as verrucae, which are lumpy skeletal outgrowths that include several corallites and give this genus its characteristic appearance. The corallites are flat and very small, scattered over the skeleton. The coral varies in colour, often being some shade of cream, pink or greenish-brown. Similar species include Pocillopora verrucosa, which has rougher verrucae, as well as Pocillopora grandis and Pocillopora capitata.
Before the 1982–1983 El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, P. elegans was, along with Pocillopora damicornis, one of the strongest and most vigorous species of reef-building corals in the eastern Pacific. After that event, it disappeared from many of its previous locations, though there has since been some recruitment in Costa Rica, Panama and the Galapagos Islands. The reefs where it lives are under threat, and the IUCN has assessed its conservation status as endangered.
Reader's Guide
Pocillopora elegans is significant as a reef-building coral that was once among the strongest and most vigorous species in the eastern Pacific, particularly before the 1982–1983 ENSO event. Its decline after that event, with disappearance from many locations, highlights its vulnerability to climate-related disturbances. The species is especially susceptible to bleaching, coral diseases, and predation by the crown-of-thorns starfish. Although it has shown some recruitment in Costa Rica, Panama and the Galapagos Islands, the overall threat to its reef habitats has led the IUCN to list it as endangered. Its legacy lies in demonstrating the fragility of coral ecosystems in the face of environmental stress, and its characteristic verrucae and color variations make it a distinct member of the Pocilloporidae family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pocillopora elegans?
Pocillopora elegans is a colonial stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae, part of the birdsnest-coral group. It builds small clusters of short, thick, mostly upright branches that terminate in flattened tips.
What are Pocillopora elegans's signature features?
Its skeleton is dotted with smooth, rounded lumps called verrucae that each enclose several tiny, flat corallites scattered across the surface. Colour typically falls in the cream, pink, or greenish-brown range, and the smoother verrucae set it apart from the rougher-looking P. verrucosa.
Where does Pocillopora elegans live?
The species is native to tropical and subtropical reef habitats spanning the western, central, and eastern Pacific Ocean. It is generally found in shallow water, down to roughly 20 metres (about 66 feet) on reef flats and upper slopes.
Why is Pocillopora elegans important?
As a reef-building coral, it adds three-dimensional structure to shallow reef environments, creating shelter and feeding grounds for a wide array of invertebrates and small reef fish. Losing it would reduce the architectural complexity that many other marine species rely on for survival and reproduction.
More in Pocillopora and Birdsnest Corals 1-15
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