Compressed coral (Porites compressa)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Porites compressa · Authority: Dana, 1846 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 207236.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Porites bulbosa Quelch, 1886; Porites compressa f. abacus Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. angusepta Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. angusepta delicatula Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. angusepta paucispina Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. breviramosa Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. bulbosa Quelch, 1886; Porites compressa f. clavus Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. compacta Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. conjungens Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. densimurata Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. divaricans Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. elongata Dana, 1846; Porites compressa f. fragilis Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. granimurata Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. pilosa Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. profundicalyx Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. profundorum Vaughan, 1907; Porites compressa f. tumida Vaughan, 1907; Porites mordax Dana, 1846; Porites mordax f. elongata Dana, 1846.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207236 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

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

Depth range: 0–98 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 45700) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Porites-compressa.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

231 georeferenced occurrence records for Porites compressa are published through GBIF from 16 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 40 distinct locations from a sample of 231 records, omitting 11 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: United States of America (173); Iran (Islamic Republic of) (14); United States Minor Outlying Islands (14); India (8); Egypt (4); Mexico (3); French Polynesia (3); Kenya (2); Philippines (2); Pitcairn (2); Eritrea (1); France (1); Kiribati (1); Saudi Arabia (1); Sudan (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Red Sea; Aldabra; Indo-West Pacific; United States Exclusive Economic Zone; Midway Atoll; Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5184780) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5184780&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207236 (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 Porites compressa Dana, 1846 as Least Concern (code LC). 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 133349) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/133349/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5184780) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5184780/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Porites compressa is generally pale brown or grey. In shallow water it resembles a knobbly boulder but in deeper water it is more columnar.

The branches are cylindrical and often fuse together. The growth rate is slow but it often grows into large colonies which may be up to 1000 years old. It is a zooxanthellate coral, having symbiotic unicellular zooxanthellae in the tissues which provide it with energy.

Porites compressa occurs in the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea and East African coast. Around Hawaii it is common and is found on reefs and in lagoons to a depth of 30 m where the water is relatively undisturbed. In Kaneohe Bay it is the dominant coral species and sometimes forms monospecific stands.

Porites compressa is affected by rising sea temperatures but it is more resistant to bleaching than many other corals. It is more susceptible to coral diseases than some other species however and it is stressed corals that are most likely to succumb to disease. Coral reefs in general are under threat from many causes. These include El Nino events, ocean acidification, trawling and other fishery activities, competition from invasive species and human activities which includes pollution and the collection of corals for the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Porites compressa — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porites_compressa (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.