Pocillopora verrucosa is a branching scleractinian coral (family Pocilloporidae) widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, forming compact colonies with fine, densely packed verrucae that are diagnostic of the species. It is an ecologically dominant species in Red Sea reef communities and is among the most thermally tolerant Pocillopora species, making it important for research on coral resilience. Its population structure and bleaching dynamics are subjects of active research across the Indo-Pacific. Genomic data have been generated for this species and are available in public databases, enabling comparative studies of cnidarian evolution and ecology.