Related FAQs: Pocilloporids, Pocilloporids 2, & FAQs on: Pocilloporid Identification, Pocilloporid Behavior, Pocilloporid Compatibility, Pocilloporid Selection, Pocilloporid Systems, Pocilloporid Feeding, Pocilloporid Health, Pocilloporid Reproduction/Propagation, & SPS Corals, Stony/True Coral, Coral System Set-Up, Coral System Lighting, Stony Coral Identification, Stony Coral Selection, Coral Placement,  Foods/Feeding/Nutrition, Disease/Health, Propagation, Growing Reef Corals,  Stony Coral Behavior, SPS Identification, SPS Behavior, SPS Compatibility, SPS Selection, SPS Systems, SPS Feeding, SPS Disease, SPS Reproduction, Related Articles: True or Stony Corals, Order Scleractinia, Family Astrocoeniidae,  /The Best Livestock For Your Reef Aquarium:  Family Pocilloporidae, Part 1   To: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Bob Fenner

Pocillopora eydouxi, Bunaken

Family Pocilloporidae: Tend toward branching morphology, small corallites on a surface that appears bumpy (verrucae). Corallites occur on and between verrucae. This family, erected (made up) by Gray in 1842, is second only to the Acroporids in importance as contributors to reef formation. Pocilloporids reproduce sexually year round by way of planulae larvae, asexually by fragmentation. Most forms are finger-like (digitate) to branching (ramose). The family was made up of five genera until recently (Madracis and Paulaustrea are now part of the family Astrocoeniidae according to Veron, 2000). 

Aquarium Use: Pocilloporids are generally hardy and adaptable. They stay open in the wild twenty four hours a day and the few that mainly open only at night can be trained to be open during the day by feeding. Other pluses of this group is their often bright color and ease of propagation by fragmentation. They need clean water of good movement, bright lighting. 

    A note re their growth and placement: Pocilloporids are not as fast growing as Acroporids and some other stony corals, and though they may add extension of a couple of inches per year, they need to be spaced far enough away from other life so as not to be overshadowed. 

Selection:

    If possible, seek out non-wild collected stocks. Ones from off the reef frequently don't adapt as well to captive conditions and are far more likely to harbor undesirable co-life... including shrimps and crabs that can go from commensal to predaceous. Another reason for searching for captive fragged colonies is the apparent short lifespan of wild stocks. Some Pocillopora have been determined to live only 7-8 years in the wild. 

    The usual provisos of observing potential purchases for bleaching, tissue recession apply here. Their 1 mm or so living tissue depth is very easily damaged in collection, shipping, handling, and such trauma can precipitate into unsalvageable specimens. 

Pocilloporid Genera, Notes: 

Genus Madracis Edwards & Haine 1849, Finger, Pencil, Cactus Corals. Colonies are laminar, columnar or encrusting. Have tightly packed corallites with ten radiating septa fused w/ the columella. Fine spinules on their coenosteum. The only genus of the family found in the Atlantic (also in the Pacific). This genus placed by Veron (2000) in the new family Astrocoeniidae. 

Madracis mirabilis Bonaire.

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Madracis pharensis (Heller 1868) Cozumel.

Genus Palauastrea Yabe & Sagiyama 1941. One species, P. ramosa. Pacific in shallow, sandy bottoms. A rarity in the ornamental trade, with star-shaped corallites, blunt ending branches. This genus has also been placed by Veron (2000) in the new family Astrocoeniidae. 

Palauastrea ramosa Yabe & Sagiyama 1941. Blunt, club-like branches. Cream to light brown in color. Similar in appearance to Porites cylindrica. Bunaken/Sulawesi/Indonesia photo.

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Genus Pocillopora Lamarck 1816, Cauliflower, Bird's Nest, Brush, Cluster Coral. Readily identified by their distinctive verrucae, fuzzy, warty appearing corallites. Skeletons have a good deal of the complex polysaccharide chitin  in them (only Fungia shares this trait) Polyps are small, imbedded in the stony skeleton. In the wild they open only at night, but can be trained to open by day in captivity.  A very widespread and adaptable genus, with members of the same species found in many different habitats. Occur in all colors of living corals. 

Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus 1758), Cauliflower Coral. The most common member of the family offered to the aquarium trade. Compact clumps of up to a few meters height. Verrucae and branches blend together; branches roundish in cross section (vs P. verrucosa which are flattened). Of varying branch thickness (thinner in greater depths, less water motion areas). Several colors: overall brown, pink cream, purple, greenish. Colony and close-up of Pulau Redang specimens and close-up of the species off Cabo Pulmo, Mexico's Sea of Cortez in the tropical eastern Pacific below.

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To: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5