Invertebrate · GBIF taxon 2259467
Cauliflower Coral
Pocillopora meandrinaAlso known as Brush Coral, Pink Cauliflower Coral
Cauliflower corals form robust, hemispherical clumps with flattened branches that closely mimic the florets of a cauliflower head. They thrive in turbulent, wave-swept shallow waters where intense surge delivers essential oxygen, washes away sediment, and drives microscopic prey into awaiting polyps. Dense branch networks provide critical fortress habitats for mutualistic guard crabs, snapping shrimp, and juvenile reef fish that fiercely defend the colony against grazing predators.
Reef-BuildingColonialMarine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Copepods
- Invertebrate Larvae
- Organic Detritus
Predators
- Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
- Ornate Butterflyfish
- Parrotfish
ThreatsMarine heatwaves causing coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and physical storm damage
HabitatsShallow exposed reefs, surge channels, and upper reef crests
Life spanDecades to over a century
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderScleractinia
- FamilyPocilloporidae
- GenusPocillopora
- SpeciesPocillopora meandrina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe while diving or snorkeling; avoid touching to prevent damage to fragile living polyps.
- What to notice
- Look for compact, cauliflower-like mounds of pale brown, pink, or green flattened branches on shallow surge reefs.
- Support conservation
- Never stand on, kick, or anchor boats near colonies, and report signs of coral bleaching to local monitoring programs.
Responsible observation
- Buoyancy Control: Maintain neutral buoyancy while swimming nearby to avoid kicking or crushing fragile branches.
- Sunscreen Choice: Apply mineral-based, non-nano reef-safe sunscreen to reduce chemical toxicity in shallow waters.
- Careful Observation: Float steadily a meter away to catch glimpses of tiny guard crabs peeking between branches.
Predator "Crown of thorns starfish eating coral, Fiji" by Derek Keats is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Image unavailableSymbiont Corallivore 
Close Relative (c) Susan Prior, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Susan Prior · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ryan McMinds, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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