Highlights

• Microplastic (MP) accumulation was analyzed in four coral species.

• MPs were present in all parts (mucus layer, tissue, and skeleton) of each species.

• Pocillopora cf. damicornis exhibited the highest MP accumulation.

• Large-polyp corals exhibited significant variation in polymer types across different parts.

Individual coral polyps contain three distinct components—the surface mucus layer, tissue, and skeleton; each component may exhibit varying extent of microplastic (MP) accumulation and serve as a short- or long-term repository for these pollutants.

In this study, we investigated MP contamination in various coral species with respect to their surface mucus layers, tissues, and skeletons. The branching small-polyp coral P. cf. damicornis exhibited significant accumulation of MPs (particles g−1 w.w.). Additionally, this coral species exhibited a high rate of MP accumulation in its skeleton, whereas large-polyp corals, such as Lobophyllia sp., showed high amounts of MPs that adhered to their surfaces.