The document provides information on the taxonomy, morphology, distinguishing features, conservation status, and threats of four species of coral: Lobophyllia hemprichii, Acropora spp., Pocillopora elegans, and Lobophyllia hemprichii. Lobophyllia hemprichii forms hemispherical or flattened mounds up to 5 meters in diameter and is listed as Least Concern. Acropora spp. have distinctive bushy morphologies and are Near Threatened. Pocillopora elegans has branching structures covered in wart-like projections and is listed as Vulnerable. Threats to these corals include bleaching, disease, predation,

2. Common Names:
Lobed brain coral or
largebrain root coral

3. Taxonomic Classification
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subclass: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Lobophyllidae
Genus: Lobophyllia

4. Morphology of
corallum
• Hemispherical or
flattened mounds up
to 5m in diameter
• Several adjacent
colonies, sometimes
of different colors,
may grow together to
form a composite
colony

5. Distinguishing features
• Corallite: tubular form
growing from a common
base (phaceloid) or
arranged in valleys with
neighboring valleys each
having a ridge, with the
valleys dividing irregularly
• Septa: taper in thickness
and have tall sharp teeth

6. Distinguishing features
• Color: shade of gray,
pink, violet or yellowish-
brown, sometimes a
uniform color or
contrasting region
• Zooxathellae coral having
single-celled
photosynthesing
organisms known as
dinoflagellates leaving
within the tissues.

7. Conservation Status
• 2008 – Least Concern
(LC)
• common and sometimes
is very abundant and
forms super colonies

8. Threats
• This species exhibited
high bleaching and
mortality in the 1998
bleaching event in Palau
(Brunno et al. 2001).
• This species is
targeted for the
aquarium trade.

9. Threats
• Indonesia is the largest
exporter with an annual
quota of 12, 500 live
pieces in 2005
• targeted in Fiji but
there is no species
specific quota

11. Common Names:
table coral, elkhorn coral,
and staghorn coral

12. Taxonomic Classification
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subclass: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora

13. Morphology of corallum
• grows mostly vertically, which
leads to a bushy morphology
that is semi-erect
• Polyps extend from vertical
branch tips on an average of
1.2 to 1.5 cm, and these polyps
are non-reproductive

14. Morphology of corallum
• Polyps are on average about 1-
2 mm in diameter
• Modules that comprise a
colony often show some
degree of polymorphism

15. Distinguishing features
• Corallite: relatively small, with
porous walls constructed by
synapticula that merge with the
non-corallite skeleton.
• Septa: do not extend above the
corallite and are in two cycles,
constructed by trabeculae.

16. Distinguishing features
• Columella are usually not
present, and the skeletal material
between the corallites is flake-
like, spiny, or striated.
• form branching and massive
colonies by extratentacular
budding

17. Conservation Status
• NEAR THREATENED
because of extensive reduction
of coral reef habitat
• Specific population trends are
unknown but population
reduction can be inferred from
estimated habitat loss.

18. Threats
• Threats include coral removal
and harvesting for display in
aquariums and for the curio-
trade.
• Members of this genus have a
low resistance and low tolerance
to bleaching and disease, and are
slow to recover.

19. Threats
• Acanthaster planci, the crown-
of-thorns starfish, has been
observed preferentially preying
upon corals of the genus
Acropora (Colgan 1987).

21. Common Names:
cauliflower coral, brush
coral

22. Taxonomic Classification
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Pocilloporidae
Genus: Pocillopora

23. Morphology of corallum
• Colony type: Branching,
becoming submassive in high
energy environment
• Corallite type: small, flush,
immersed, pore like
• Tentacles are extended
during the day and night

24. Morphology of corallum
• Description: Branches fine
to robust and flattened,
covered with distinctive
verrucae, immersed
corallites, coenosteum
covered with granules
• Septa: Two unequal cycles
of septa

25. Morphology of corallum
• Calices crowded together
on wart-like projections
(verrucae) and connected
by a network of common
walls, ridges, seams, or
grooves
• Color: Cream, Greenish-
brown, Pink

26. Conservation Status
• 2008 – Vulnerable (VU)
• widespread and locally
common throughout its
range

27. Threats
• Particularly susceptible to
bleaching, disease, crown-
of-thorns starfish predation,
and extensive reduction of
coral reef habitat

28. • Specific population trends
are unknown but population
reduction can be inferred
from declines in habitat
quality.

29. Pocillopora
Hoeksema, B.W., Rogers, A. & Quibilan, M.C. 2014. Pocillopora elegans.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014:
e.T133099A54197316. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-
1.RLTS.T133099A54197316.en. Downloaded on 28 September 2017.
Navigation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2017, from
http://coral.aims.gov.au/factsheet.jsp?speciesCode=0772
Pocillopora elegans Dana, 1846. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2017,
from http://www.sealifebase.org/summary/Pocillopora-elegans.html
Lobophyllia
Turak, E., Sheppard, C., and Wood, E. (2014). Lobophyllia hemprichii. The
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014. Retrieved from
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133419A54257594.en.
“Lobophillia hemprichii”. Coral Fact Sheets. Australian Institute of Marine
Science.2013. Retrieved September 28, 2017
Acropora
Boulon, R., Chiappone, M., Halley, R., Jaap, W., Keller, B., Kruczynski, B.,
Miller, M., and Rogers, C. (2005). Atlantic Acropora Status Review .
Retrieved September 28,2017 from
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/statusreviews/corals.pdf
Ziglinski, A. 2003. "Acropora millepora" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.
Accessed September 28, 2017 at
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Acropora_millepora/
Aeby, G., Delbeek, J.C., Lovell, E., Richards, Z., Reboton, C. & Bass, D.
2008. Acropora austera. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008:
e.T133160A3607835. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T133160
A3607835.en. Downloaded on 28 September 2017