Montipora Coral

Montipora genus

Montipora Coral

Montipora genus

Other Common Names
No other common names for the genus, but the many different species of Montipora coral go by a variety of names.

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

No other common names for the genus, but the many different species of Montipora coral go by a variety of names.

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

Species of Montipora coral vary in general appearance including shape and color. They may be blue, brown, yellow, green, pink, purple or red. Tentacles are small and often white in color.

A corallite is the skeleton of a single polyp, in which the polyp sits and can retract into. The corallites of Montipora coral are typically small and appear almost structureless. Their polyps are usually extended only at night.

Habitat

Habitat preferences vary between species but Montipora corals can often be found in lagoons and outer reef flats.

Diet

Montipora coral receives most of its nutrients from its relationship with zooxanthellae, a type of algae that performs photosynthesis and lives within the coral. For more information on this special relationship continue reading here.

Life History

Montipora coral reproduce and grow similarly to other corals, releasing eggs and sperm into the water. Eggs become fertilized and once they hatch they develop into larvae called planulae. Planulae float in ocean currents and eventually swim back down to the bottom. If conditions are favorable they will settle, developing into polyps and forming colonies. For more information on how Montipora coral and other corals reproduce and grow, continue your reading here.

IUCN Status

Decreasing

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Some particular forms of Montipora coral that resemble leaves provide shelter to animals such as feather stars and crabs. Other forms that are boulder shaped are often homes to barnacles and fan worms.

Montipora corals are important reef-building corals, helping build and function as the foundation of reefs around the world.

Widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

The Montipora genus has the second largest number of coral species.

Montipora corals have the smallest corallites of any other genus of coral.

Citations & Other Resources

Veron, J. E. N. 1986. Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Angus & Robertson, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
Wood, E. M. 1983. Reef corals of the world: biology and field guide. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, NJ.

Montipora Coral

Montipora Coral

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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