Pocillopora, is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of coral

Coral

Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...

 in the phylum Cnidaria

Cnidaria

Cnidaria is a phylum containing over 9,000 species of animals found exclusively in aquatic and mostly marine environments. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Their bodies consist of mesoglea, a non-living jelly-like substance,...

 occurring in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are commonly called cauliflower corals and brush corals.

Description

Cauliflower corals are widespread and can be identified by the presence of wart-like growths on their surface. The colonies can be dome shaped or branching and are very variable in colour and shape depending on the species and the environmental conditions. Species situated on shallow reef

Reef

In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....

s pounded by the sea tend to be stunted whilst those in deep calm water are often thin and open. Each individual polyp has tentacles but these are normally extended only at night.

Biology

The polyps are hermaphrodite

Hermaphrodite

In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...

, possessing four sets of male and four sets of female gonad

Gonad

The gonad is the organ that makes gametes. The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries. The product, gametes, are haploid germ cells. For example, spermatozoon and egg cells are gametes...

s. Pocillopora can reproduce asexually via fragmentation. They also reproduce sexually and the larvae develop inside the polyps rather than free floating in the water. When they are mature, the larvae are released and can remain free-swimming for several weeks before settling on the substrate.

Pocillopora corals contain microscopic symbiotic

Symbiosis

Symbiosis is close and often long-term interaction between different biological species. In 1877 Bennett used the word symbiosis to describe the mutualistic relationship in lichens...

 algae (zooxanthellae) living within them. Through photosynthesis, these algae produce energy-rich molecules that the coral polyps can assimilate. In return, the coral provides the algae with protection and access to sunlight. The polyps also feed by capturing tiny particles using their tentacles.These corals are widespread because they sometimes attach to floating objects and can be carried far afield by currents and wind.

Species

• Pocillopora capitata Verrill, 1864
• Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Pocillopora effusus Veron, 2002
• Pocillopora elegans Dana, 1846
• Pocillopora eydouxi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860
• Pocillopora fungiformis Veron, 2002
• Pocillopora indiania Veron, 2002
• Pocillopora inflata Glynn, 1999
• Pocillopora kelleheri Veron, 2002
• Pocillopora meandrina
  Pocillopora meandrina
  Pocillopora meandrina, common name cauliflower coral, is a species of coral occurring in the East Pacific and the Indo-West Pacific. This coral lives in shallow reef environments.-Description:...
  
  Dana, 1846
• Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander, 1786)
• Pocillopora woodjonesi Vaughan, 1918
• Pocillopora zelli Veron, 2002