Pocillopora fungiformis
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Pocillopora fungiformis is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. It is native to Madagascar. It is a mostly encrusting species and grows in patches up to 2 m across.
- Scientific name
- Pocillopora fungiformis
- Authority
- Veron, 2000
- Family
- Pocilloporidae
- Order
- Scleractinia
- Depth range
- 0–40 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Endangered
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Pocilloporidae · Genus: Pocillopora.
Accepted name: Pocillopora fungiformis · Authority: Veron, 2000 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 289248.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=289248 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Pocillopora fungiformis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Depth range: 0–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.
SeaLifeBase notes: Found in shallow reef environments exposed to strong wave action (Ref. 847).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45589) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Pocillopora-fungiformis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Pocillopora fungiformis Veron, 2000 as Endangered (code EN). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 133552) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133552/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2259457) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2259457/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Colonies of P. fungiformis are generally encrusting, and can be 2 m across. larger colonies additionally have bifurcating upright or sloping branches which tend to have flattened ends, and which can grow to 20 cm in length. Irregular verrucae (lumpy skeletal outgrowths) grow on the surface of the coral, and on branches growing at oblique angles, the verrucae are more abundant on the upper side. The individual corallites (stony cups in which the polyps sit) are small and crowded, each having one septum (stony ridge) more developed than the rest. This coral is some shade of greenish-brown.
P. fungiformis is endemic to Madagascar where it is found on the north end of the island and the south end. It prefers shallow reef habitats with strong water movement, to a maximum depth of 15 m.
P. fungiformis has a small range and is an uncommon species. It is particularly susceptible to bleaching and coral diseases and the reefs where it lives are under threat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "endangered".
Source: Wikipedia: Pocillopora fungiformis — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocillopora_fungiformis (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced