This site is a work in progress, regularly revised as coral reef scientists working at, or visiting, the park share their knowledge and expertise about corals at the park's superb reefs.

Visiting scientists frequently preview these images and species lists on-line to maximize their time at the park. Lists and photo identifications are continually appended and revised as researchers comment on the website content. Former park marine biologist, Eva DiDonato, initiated the site--with preliminary coral identifications by Charles Birkeland of the University of Hawaii. Several other park ecologists and visiting scientists continue to add new content and critique the material presented.

How to use this site. The site is organized by an alphabetical list of scientific names, each name linked to a species list by family. (Lists by common and Samoan names are currently only in development). Thumbnail pictures on the family list pages link to enlarged photos.

Or, you can browse pages of illustrations arranged by family. Holding your curser on the image will pop up the species name. Clicking on any plate or family list photo jumps to the enlarged picture.

E-mail comments or corrections to bryan_harry@partner.nps.gov or peter_craig@nps.gov

Plate 1. Soft Corals and Stony Corals - Zoanthidae, Alcyoniidae, Actinodiscidae,and Pocilliporidae.
Plate 2. Stony Corals, Acroporidae, Acropora sp. - A. austera
Plate 3. Stony Corals, Acroporidae, Acropora cophodactyla - A. formosa
Plate 4. Stony Corals, Acroporidae, Acropora gemmifera to A. nasuta
Plate 5. Stony Corals, Acroporidae, Acropora noblis to A. samoensis.
Plate 6. Soft Corals and Stony Corals, Acroporidae, -- Acropora secale - A. tenuis.
Plate 7. Stony Corals, Acroporidae, -- Acropora valida - Astreopora
Plate 8. Stony Corals, Acroporidae, -- Montipora
Plate 9. Stony Corals, Poritidae -- Goniopora fruiticosa - Porites cylindrica
Plate 10. Stony Corals, Poritidae. -- Porites lobata - Porites solida
Plate 11. Stony Corals, Agariciidae
Plate 12. Stony Corals, Siderastreidae, Fungiidae, Oculinidae, Pectiniidae and Mussidae
Plate 13. Stony Corals, Family Faviidae -- Diploastrea heliopora - Favia stelligera
Plate 14. Stony Corals, Faviidae -- Favites abdita - F. russelli
Plate 15. Stony Corals, Faviidae -- Goniastrea - Platygyra sinensis
Plate 16. Stony Corals, Merulinidae and Helioporidae
Plate 17. Stony Corals, Milleporidae

Corals of National Park of American Samoa