Pocillopora inflata

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Cnidaria · Class: Hexacorallia · Order: Scleractinia · Family: Pocilloporidae · Genus: Pocillopora.

Accepted name: Pocillopora inflata · Authority: Glynn, 1999 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 289250.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=289250 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Pocillopora inflata. 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 rocky foreshores (Ref. 847).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45591) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Pocillopora-inflata.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

81 georeferenced occurrence records for Pocillopora inflata are published through GBIF from 4 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 12 distinct locations from a sample of 81 records, omitting 4 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Ecuador (49); Mexico (29); Panama (2); Costa Rica (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Eastern South Pacific; Mexican Exclusive Economic Zone; Ecuadorean Exclusive Economic Zone; Panamanian Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2259466) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2259466&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=289250 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Pocillopora inflata Glynn, 1999 as Data Deficient (code DD). 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 133309) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133309/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2259466) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2259466/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pocillopora inflata is a colonial, zooxanthellate, arborescent coral. It varies in shape, sometimes forming knobbly mounds which can grow to 1 m across, and sometimes having a more open structure with short branches several centimetres in diameter. The colour ranges from yellowish brown to shades of green.

It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the fact that it has swollen ends to the branches, a small number of pointed verrucae (or none at all) and prominent columellae on the lower part of the colony. The corallites are small and densely crowded and some of the septa, which are indistinct, are fused with the columella. The polyps have 12 tentacles.

Distribution and habitat

Pocillopora inflata occurs in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean from the coast of Mexico to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. It favours rocky shores and grows at depths of less than 10 m.

Ecology

This species often grows among other Pocilloporid corals. Corals in the genus have relatively fast growth rates, with Pocillopora inflata growing at the rate of 2 to 4.4 cm a year. Most Pocilloporids brood their planula larvae, and this may also be true of Pocillopora inflata, but it has on one occasion been observed to broadcast eggs and sperm into the sea in a synchronised spawning event.

It has a number of predators. These include pufferfishes, parrotfishes and filefishes which feed on the branch tips and hermit crabs which scrape the skeletal tissue.

Other predators feed on the soft tissues while leaving the skeleton intact. These include such fish as the butterflyfishes, the angelfishes and the damselfish, Stegastes acapulcoensis. Invertebrate predators include the crown-of-thorns starfish, the sea urchin, Eucidaris galapagensis, and the gastropods, Jenneria pustulata and Quoyula sp.

Pocillopora inflata has several mutualistic symbionts including the crab, Trapezia sp., and certain snapping shrimps which protect it from attack by its major predator, the crown-of-thorns starfish.

Threats

Pocillopora inflata is an uncommon coral throughout its range and is more susceptible than many other species to bleaching and to predation by the crown-of-thorns starfish which is becoming more abundant in some areas. In common with other corals, it is threatened by rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, ENSO events, severe storms, coral diseases, pollution and coral harvesting.

Source: Wikipedia: Pocillopora inflata — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocillopora_inflata (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.