Rasp coral (Pocillopora verrucosa)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Pocillopora verrucosa · Authority: (Ellis & Solander, 1786) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 206954.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Madrepora verrucosa Ellis & Solander, 1786; Pocillopora aspera var. danae Verrill, 1864; Pocillopora danae Verrill, 1864; Pocillopora hemprichi Ehrenberg, 1834.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=206954 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Pocillopora verrucosa. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 30 cm · Depth range: 0–54 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Vulnerability index: 20 of 100.

SeaLifeBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 98471. It is found from fore-reefs (Ref. 87903) to protected fringing reefs and coral communities living on rocky substrates (Ref. 98471). Colonies growing in shallow water or exposed to wave action have thick sturdy branches while those from deep calm waters have thinner branches (Ref. 269).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45594) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Pocillopora-verrucosa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

4,623 georeferenced occurrence records for Pocillopora verrucosa are published through GBIF from 62 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 311 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 43 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: Mexico (814); Australia (625); Egypt (598); American Samoa (551); United States Minor Outlying Islands (405).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2259459) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2259459&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=206954 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis & Solander, 1786) 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 254422741) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/254422741/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2259459) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2259459/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pocillopora verrucosa is a colonial coral and grows into hemispherical clumps up to 30 cm in diameter. The branches are 1 to 2 cm thick and usually have clubbed tips. The surface is covered with large verrucae (wart-like growths) up to 6 mm high and the corallites (the stony cups from which the polyps emerge) are 1 mm in diameter. The colour of this coral varies and it may be yellowish-green, pink, brown or bluish-brown. It differs from Pocillopora damicornis in having broader, somewhat flattened, club-tipped branches and by the fact that its verrucae are more evenly sized and spaced.

Pocillopora verrucosa is native to the tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 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 in most of its range and is found on fringing reefs and moderately-exposed reef fronts but is less tolerant than P. damicornis of sediment and is therefore less common in lagoons.

Pocillopora verrucosa, like many corals, contains microscopic symbiotic dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) living within its tissues. Through photosynthesis, these algae produce energy-rich molecules that the coral can assimilate. It has been found that these algae are already present in the eggs before spawning.

Pocillopora verrucosa can reproduce by fragmentation, a form of asexual reproduction. It is also a simultaneous hermaphrodite but its reproductive method varies across its range. Each polyp usually contains twelve gonads, the six nearest the mouth being ovaries and the other six spermaries. In South Africa the gametes are released simultaneously from both of these and spawning takes place at new moon in January (mid-summer) with the gametes being liberated into the water column. However, at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, this species has been shown to fertilise the eggs internally and brood the developing planula larvae.

A number of predators feed on this coral. These include pufferfishes, parrotfishes and filefishes which feed on the tips of the branches and hermit crabs which scrape the skeletal tissue. Other animals feed on the soft tissues while leaving the skeleton intact including the butterflyfishes, the angelfishes and the damselfish, Stegastes acapulcoensis. Invertebrates which feed on this coral are the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), Jenner's cowry (Jenneria pustulata), the sea urchin, Eucidaris galapagensis and the coral snails, Coralliophila spp.. Both the starfish and the cowry can kill a mature coral colony by stripping off the living tissue.

Pocillopora spp. have 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.

In general coral reefs around the world are being destroyed and although this coral is common and relatively resilient, it is likely that populations are in decline along with their habitat. The main threats are climate change, ocean acidification, bleaching and coral diseases. The IUCN has listed Pocillopora verrucosa as being of "Least Concern" as it considers that the rate of decline in its populations is not sufficient to justify listing it in a more threatened category. Like all corals, it is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Source: Wikipedia: Pocillopora verrucosa — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocillopora_verrucosa (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.