Corals of the Philippines

This field guide showcases corals in the Philippines that are listed as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The Philippines is home to almost 600 coral species, of which almost 200 are classified as endangered or vulnerable by the IUCN. Unfortunately, many of these coral species are threatened by rising ocean temperatures, increased coastal development and pollution.

This field guide is the result of a collaborative nine-month research project in the Philippines, by Yasmeen Smalley-Norman and Wilfredo Y. Licuanan. The corals in this book were photographed and 3D modeled by Ms. Smalley-Norman for a 2016-2017 Fulbright grant, and the corals were identified to species level by Dr. Licuanan, a coral scientist and professor at De La Salle University.

Many similar species were photographed as the authors sought to find and 3D model these threatened coral species. Because identifying corals within a genus can be challenging, Ms. Smalley-Norman’s Fulbright research expanded to include corals within the genera of threatened species. This book is intended to aid in distinguishing threatened coral species and their similar relatives.

As coral reefs across the Philippines decline, it is especially important to be able to identify and protect endangered and vulnerable coral species.