Pocillopora verrucosa
A stony coral with wart-like growths, native to Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Pocillopora verrucosa, also called cauliflower coral, rasp coral, or knob-horned coral, is a type of stony coral belonging to the family Pocilloporidae. It lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This coral forms colonies that grow into rounded, dome-shaped clumps up to 30 cm across. Its branches are 1 to 2 cm thick and typically have blunt, club-shaped ends. The entire surface is covered in prominent wart-like bumps called verrucae, which can reach 6 mm in height. The coral’s color varies, ranging from yellowish-green and pink to brown or bluish-brown. It can be told apart from the similar species Pocillopora damicornis by its broader, slightly flattened branches with club tips, and by its more evenly sized and spaced verrucae.
This coral is found across a wide area, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Hawaii, Easter Island, and the western coast of Central America. It lives at depths down to about 54 meters, but is most common between 1 and 15 meters. It is a common species on fringing reefs and moderately exposed reef fronts, though it is less tolerant of sediment than P. damicornis and therefore appears less often in lagoons.
Like many corals, Pocillopora verrucosa hosts microscopic symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae inside its tissues. These algae produce energy-rich molecules through photosynthesis, which the coral can use. The algae are already present in the coral’s eggs before they are spawned. This coral can reproduce asexually through fragmentation. It is also a simultaneous hermaphrodite, but its reproductive method varies by location. Each polyp usually has twelve gonads: the six closest to the mouth are ovaries, and the other six are spermaries. In South Africa, the coral releases both eggs and sperm into the water at the same time, spawning around the new moon in January (mid-summer). At Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, however, the species fertilizes its eggs internally and broods the developing larvae.
Various animals prey on this coral. Pufferfishes, parrotfishes, and filefishes eat the tips of the branches, while hermit crabs scrape the skeletal tissue. Other creatures, such as butterflyfishes, angelfishes, and the damselfish Stegastes acapulcoensis, feed on the soft tissues without damaging the skeleton.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Pocillopora verrucosa
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pocillopora verrucosa is a colonial coral that forms hemispherical clumps up to 30 cm across. Its branches are 1 to 2 cm thick and typically have clubbed tips. The surface is covered with large verrucae up to 6 mm high, and the corallites are 1 mm in diameter. The coral varies in color, appearing yellowish-green, pink, brown, or bluish-brown. It differs from Pocillopora damicornis in having broader, somewhat flattened, club-tipped branches and more evenly sized and spaced verrucae.
Its wide range extends from East Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Hawaii, Easter Island, and the western coast of Central America. It is found at depths down to about 54 m but is most common between 1 and 15 m. It is a common species on fringing reefs and moderately-exposed reef fronts but is less tolerant of sediment than P. damicornis and is therefore less common in lagoons.
Like many corals, it contains microscopic symbiotic dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) living within its tissues. These algae produce energy-rich molecules through photosynthesis that the coral can assimilate. The algae are already present in the eggs before spawning. The coral can reproduce by fragmentation, a form of asexual reproduction, and is also a simultaneous hermaphrodite, though its reproductive method varies across its range. In South Africa, gametes are released simultaneously at new moon in January, while at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, eggs are fertilized internally and the larvae are brooded.
Reader's Guide
Pocillopora verrucosa is notable for its wide distribution across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, Australia, Hawaii, and the western coast of Central America. It is a common species on fringing reefs and moderately-exposed reef fronts, though it is less tolerant of sediment than its relative Pocillopora damicornis. The coral faces predation from a variety of animals, including pufferfishes, parrotfishes, filefishes, hermit crabs, butterflyfishes, angelfishes, the damselfish Stegastes acapulcoensis, the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), Jenner's cowry (Jenneria pustulata), the sea urchin Eucidaris galapagensis, and coral snails of the genus Coralliophila. Both the starfish and the cowry can kill a mature colony by stripping off the living tissue. In turn, Pocillopora spp. have mutualistic symbionts such as the crab Trapezia sp. and certain snapping shrimps that protect it from the crown-of-thorns starfish. The IUCN has listed Pocillopora verrucosa as being of 'Least Concern,' as the rate of decline in its populations is not sufficient to justify a more threatened category. Like all corals, it is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Did You Know?
- Pocillopora verrucosa is also known as cauliflower coral, rasp coral, or knob-horned coral.
- Its surface is covered with large verrucae (wart-like growths) up to 6 mm high.
- In South Africa, spawning takes place at new moon in January (mid-summer).
- The crown-of-thorns starfish and Jenner's cowry can kill a mature colony by stripping off the living tissue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pocillopora verrucosa?
It is a stony coral species in the Pocilloporidae family, widely recognized by common names such as cauliflower coral, rasp coral, or knob-horned coral. It thrives in warm tropical and subtropical waters spanning the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
What does Pocillopora verrucosa look like?
The colony builds up into a rounded, dome-shaped clump whose branches terminate in blunt, club-like tips. Its surface is densely studded with wart-like protrusions called verrucae, each reaching up to roughly 6 mm in height. Coloration can shift anywhere from yellowish-green and pink to brown or bluish-brown.
How big does a Pocillopora verrucosa colony grow?
A mature colony can spread to about 30 cm (12 in) in diameter, with individual branches measuring 1 to 2 cm thick. The tiny corallites—small cups that house each polyp—are only around 1 mm across, giving the colony a finely textured appearance.
Where can you find Pocillopora verrucosa in the wild?
It is native to tropical and subtropical reef habitats throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Most colonies are encountered between 1 and 15 meters deep, though the species is capable of surviving at depths of roughly 54 meters.
What makes Pocillopora verrucosa visually distinct from other corals?
Its very name highlights the verrucae, the prominent wart-like bumps that give the colony a bumpy, cauliflower-like texture unlike smoother or more finely branching species. Pair those with the blunt, club-shaped branch ends and the overall dome-shaped growth form, and it stands out clearly on a reef.
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