Stony Corals

Abstract

On the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica there are 3 species of hydrocorals and 44 species of scleractinian corals: 5 azooxanthellate and 39 zooxanthellate corals, all common Caribbean species. On the Pacific side of Costa Rica, there are 5 species of hydrocorals, all from Isla del Coco, with 2 species endemic to the island, and 46 species of scleractinian corals: 24 zooxanthellate and 22 azooxanthellate. Half of the azooxanthellate corals are from deepwaters around Isla del Coco, and one is endemic to the island. The shallow-water stony coral species composition and richness of the