Antler coral

Antler Coral

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) provides habitat for several fish species at Ulong Channel, Koror, Republic of Palau.

Antler Coral in Ulong Channel

Antler Coral (Pocillopra grandis) in Ulong Channel, Koror, Republic of Palau.

Antler Coral off Waikiki

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) off Waikiki, Oahu Island, Hawaii.

Partially beached Antler Coral

This partial bleach pattern of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is consistent with ipredation by the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS; Acanthaser planci). The COTS would have attached itself to the portion of the coral head that is now bleached leaving the remaining part unnaffected.

Hard coral colors

These two heads of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) appear with difffering coloration because of differences in their symbiotic zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium).

Antler Coral

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii.

Antler Coral closeup

Closeup of Antler (Pocillopora grandis) Coral revealing individual polyps.

Antler Coral closeup

Closeup of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) revealing individual coral polyps which are green from endosymbiotic zoothanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.). This coral head is located on Haloha Reef which is located just off Maui, Hawaii, USA.

Antler Coral closeup

Closeup of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) revealing individual coral polyps which are green from endosymbiotic zoothanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.). This coral head is located on Haloha Reef which is located just off Maui, Hawaii, USA.

Antler Coral and hidden Hawaiian Squirrelfish

This large Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) head provides a place for a Hawaiian Squirrelfish (Sargocentrum xantheryrum) to hide from predators.

Antler Coral

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii.

Backwall Coral Reefscape

A view to the surface at Molokini Carter's backwall. Two conspicuous Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) heads surrounded by other corals, coraline algae, and enrusting sponges in the foreground. are based just below the lip of an overhang.

Predation

Predation on Antler Coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) by Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci) in progress on the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii.

Congeners poised in Antler Coral.

A Feckled Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) and an Arceye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri) use Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis), the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii, as a convenient perch from which to ambush prey.

Antler Coral

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii.

Antler Coral refuge

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii provides a refuge for fish.

Partially Bleached Antler Coral

A pattern of partial bleaching of an Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) that suggests predation by a Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster planci). Photographed under water while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii.

Antler Coral in black and white

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) is the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii.

Colors of Antler Coral

Colors of Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis (formerly Pocillopora eydouxi)) vary according to the color of its symbiot. A single coral head may contain genetically distinct dinoflagellate symbiots.

Antler Coral

Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) photographed while scuba diving the Kona Coast, The Big Island, Hawaii, USA.

Freckled Hawkfish lurking in antler coral

Freckled Hawkfish lurking in Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis), the only tall branching hermatypic coral that is common in Hawaii.

A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus over antler coral

A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) hovering over Antler Coral (Pocillopora grandis) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.

lLving Antler Coral close-up

Green-colored polyps are visible in this close-up photograph of a live healthy antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) that was taken off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.

Living and healthy Antler Coral

Green-colored polyps are visible in this photograph of a live healthy antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) that was taken off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.

Coral Bleaching at Hawaii

Antler coral (Pocillopora grandis) bleached white by the compounding effects of an El Nino with global warming photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island. Excessively warm seawater temperature is stressful to live corals resulting in coral bleaching. Corals get their colors from symbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium, a type of dinoflagellate called zooxanthellae. When stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae the live coral turns white. Algae will colonizing dead coral as shown here is an outcome of prolonged bleaching.