Hawaii Biological Survey’s

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51. Snowflake Coral

Scientific name: Carijoa riisei

Hawaiian Name: —

Classification: Phylum: Cnidaria. Class: Anthozoa. Family: Telestidae

Origin: Introduced.

Status: Common.

Distribution: All main islands escept Lana‘i.

Map: —


This fragile-looking coral was accidentally introduced (probably on ship hulls) sometime before 1972. As with most recently introduced organisms to our waters, it has quickly spread throughout our harbors as well as some of our reef systems and can smother out our native corals by outcompeting them for food.

   Photo by Ralph DeFelice ©HBS