[7] P. capitata is threatened by many of the effects of climate change, including — but not limited to — increased temperatures that cause bleaching and hypoxic conditions.

The first known appearance of Pocillopora capitata in the fossil record occurred in the upper Pleistocene, approximately 0.126 million years ago.

Individual polyps possess twelve small tentacles arranged in a ring around the mouth that may outstretch during the day for feeding purposes.

[10] The verrucae — which are bumps of the sponge-like coenosteum that contain several corallites — of P. capitata are elongated but tend to exhibit irregular patterns of size and distribution across the coral’s branches.

However, studies which have transferred preyed-upon coral into corallivore-free aquarium habitats have demonstrated that recovery and return to normal growth is possible if the species is given several months of isolation from predators.

[5][6] In the Mexican Central Pacific, P. capitata can be found dwelling amongst the La Boquita, Carrizales, and Tenacatita coral reefs.

[4] Due to their preferred depth range and typical distribution within the foreshore region of coral reefs, P. capitata tends to experience high levels of wave exposure.

[8] When reproducing, polyps will release mature gametes into the water column through the mouth from the coelenteron — the central body cavity of cnidarians.