Petroleum hydrocarbon (HC) spills can cause widespread and persistent damage to coral reefs; however, the sensitivity of adult corals to HCs remain poorly understood. In this study, Acropora millepora was exposed to three representative HCs: toluene, naphthalene, and 1-methylnaphthalene individually over 7 days in a flow-through system, with lethal and sublethal (growth) responses assessed. After seven days, the median 50% partial colony mortality concentrations (LC50s) decreased with exposure duration to 22.9, 5.3, 1.2 mg L-1 for toluene, naphthalene and 1-methylnaphthalene, respectively. Toxicokinetic parameters (ϵLC50) ranged from 0.256 to 0.830 d-1, indicating the time progression of toxicity was relatively slow for this species, while the chemical activities causing 50% mortality were consistent with narcosis being the primary cause of toxicity. Growth inhibition was the most sensitive response measured, with 50% effect concentrations (EC50s) 1.9- to 3.6-fold lower than corresponding LC50s for each HC. No latent effects were observed after an additional 7-d recovery in uncontaminated seawater and there were no significant effects of HC exposure on coral colour (proxy for bleaching) or photosynthetic efficiency of symbionts. Acute and chronic species-specific sensitivity constants (CTLBBs) for lethal effects and growth inhibition in A. millepora were estimated as 70.3 ± 16.3 and 13.6 ± 18.4 µmol g-1 octanol (± SE), respectively. These CTLBBs indicate adult A. millepora is more sensitive than other adult corals assessed so far, but is of average sensitivity in comparison with other aquatic taxa in the Target Lipid Model databases. The derivation of acute and chronic A. millepora CTLBBs enables toxicity predictions for any oil composition towards adults of this coral species and can help inform damage and risk assessments for oil spills in coral reef habitats.