Reef benthos of Seychelles - A field guide Author Fassbender, Nico Nekton Foundation, Oxford, United Kingdom nico@nektonmission.org Author Stefanoudis, Paris V https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4040-8364 Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom & Nekton Foundation, Oxford, United Kingdom Author Filander, Zoleka Nontlantla https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6905-4440 Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Branch Oceans and Coasts, Cape Town, South Africa Author Gendron, Gilberte Sustainable Ocean Seychelles, Victoria, Seychelles Author Mah, Christopher L Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, United States of America Author Mattio, Lydiane University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa & blue [c] weed, Brest, France Author Mortimer, Jeanne A Seychelles' Conservation & Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT), Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles & Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America & Island Conservation Society (ICS), Point Larue, Mahe, Seychelles Author Moura, Carlos J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6243-5988 OKEANOS / DOP, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal Author Samaai, Toufiek https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7269-293X Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Branch Oceans and Coasts, Cape Town, South Africa & University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa & iZiko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa & University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa Author Samimi-Namin, Kaveh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7744-9944 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands Author Wagner, Daniel Conservation International, Arlington, United States of America Author Walton, Rowana James Michel Blue Economy Research Institute, University of Seychelles, Anse Royale, Mahe ́, Seychelles Author Woodall, Lucy C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7295-7184 Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom & Nekton Foundation, Oxford, United Kingdom text Biodiversity Data Journal 2021 2021-08-27 9 65970 65970 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e65970 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e65970 1314-2828-9-e65970 A559676C573554B8A4CFB45D00F7A876 Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) Materials Type status: Other material . Taxon : scientificName: Pocillopora damicornis; kingdom: Animalia ; phylum: Cnidaria ; class: Anthozoa ; order: Scleractinia ; family: Pocilloporidae ; genus: Pocillopora ; scientificNameAuthorship: Linnaeus , 1758; Location : waterBody: Indian Ocean ; country: Seychelles ; locality: Aldabra N 1, Aldabra W 1, Alphonse N 1, Astove W 1, Poivre E 1 ; minimumDepthInMeters: 8.8 m ; maximumDepthInMeters: 32 m ; locationRemarks: First Descent : Seychelles Expedition ; Identification : identifiedBy: Gilberte Gendron , Nico Fassbender , Paris Stefanoudis , Rowana Walton ; dateIdentified: 2019, 2020; identificationRemarks: identified only from imagery; Event : samplingProtocol: Submersible OR Remotely Operated Vehicle OR SCUBA ; Record Level : basisOfRecord: Human observation Notes Colonies are branching with branches shorter than those of other species of its genus. Morphology correlated to environmental parameters with colonies in calmer waters being more open and branched and colonies in high-energy environments appearing more compact. Maximum recorded size: 35 cm across. Colouration normally pale-brown, but can appear greenish and pink. P. damicornis is the only species of Pocillopora that we saw during our dives that could be continuously identified to species level (Fig. 101 ).