Thick finger coral

Lore & Background

Porites duerdeni is a colonial reef-building finger coral that is extremely rare and found almost exclusively in Kāne‘ohe Bay, O’ahu. It is most abundant in shallow waters typically ranging from 3–6 ft deep, but can also occur at greater depths that still receive significant sunlight. The coral is typically light brown, cream, yellowish, or light green in color, with short knub-like or spherical branches. It can be distinctly identified from closely related species by its septa composed of inwardly inclined trabeculae.

Reader's Guide

Porites duerdeni is significant as an endemic Hawaiian coral species that is extremely rare and restricted almost entirely to Kāne‘ohe Bay. Its growth is slow, averaging only 1–2 cm per year. The species faced severe impacts due to bleaching events in 2015 and 2016, and it is much more susceptible to coral bleaching than the common and dominant corals found in Hawai'i. In response, a small team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has been working to curb extinction by planting nursery-grown P. duerdeni on the reefs of Kāne‘ohe Bay. Its legacy is tied to ongoing conservation efforts to prevent the loss of this rare, endemic coral.

Did You Know?

• Porites duerdeni is endemic to Hawai'i.
• Its growth averages 1–2 cm per year.