Porites napopora
A threatened Indo-Pacific coral recorded by NOAA
“I live in the Coral Triangle, a warm sea where countless fish and corals live together, and in nearby seas. I grow in shallow reefs. My body spreads like a thin plate, with round branches reaching in many directions. My surface has many tiny deep holes, so it can look rough and spotted. Small sea animals move around the spaces I help make. In some places, I can still be found often. But even corals that seem common can be hurt when the ocean changes too fast. If the shallow reef grows weaker, fewer animals will gather near me, and the sea around me will grow quieter.”