About
With just 50 colonies estimated to exist off the coast of Molokai Island in Hawaii, the Critically Endangered Porites pukoensis is one of the rarest EDGE corals.
Despite this species being incredibly rare there is no evidence of continuing declines at present.
As an unbranching species Porites pukoensis is less susceptible to bleaching but is thought to be more prone to disease which is also known as a major cause of reef deterioration.
It is a member of the large coral genus Porites which resides in the Poritidae family. With a number of closely related species, this coral is not as evolutionary distinct as many other EDGE species.
- Order: Scleractinia
- Family: Poritidae
- Trend: unknown
EDGE Score
Distribution
This species has a highly restricted range only being found off the coast of Molokai Island, Hawaii.
Habitat and Ecology
P.pukoensis is only found in shallow, protected reefs off the coast of Molokai Island, Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
