Cladocora caespitosa, the cushion coral, is the only reef-building scleractinian coral endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, forming small bioherm structures at depths from a few to over 50 m. It is particularly notable as a survivor of past mass bleaching events in the Mediterranean, with populations displaying significant thermal tolerance variation that makes it a subject of active climate adaptation research. The species forms aggregations of phaceloid corallites with a compact, regular growth form on rocky and sedimentary substrates. It is assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and is a priority species for Mediterranean coral reef conservation. Genomic data have been generated for this species and are available in public databases, enabling comparative studies of cnidarian evolution and ecology.