Montipora | |
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Montipora aequituberculata | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Cnidaria |
Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
Class: | Hexacorallia |
Order: | Scleractinia |
Family: | Acroporidae |
Genus: | Montipora Blainville, 1830 [1] [2] |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Montipora is a genus of Scleractinian corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of the genus Montipora may exhibit many different growth morphologies. With eighty five known species, [1] Montipora is the second most species rich coral genus after Acropora . [3]
Growth morphologies for the genus Montipora include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching. [4] [5] It is not uncommon for a single Montipora colony to display more than one growth morphology. [5] Healthy Montipora corals can be a variety of colors, including orange, brown, pink, green, blue, purple, yellow, grey, or tan. [5] Although they are typically uniform in color, some species, such as Montipora spumosa or Montipora verrucosa, may display a mottled appearance. [5]
Montipora corals have the smallest corallites of any coral family. [5] Columellae are not present. [5] Coenosteum and corallite walls are porous, which can result in elaborate structures. [5] The coenosteum of each Montipora species is different, making it useful for identification. [5] Polyps are typically only extended at night. [5]
Montipora corals are commonly mistaken for members of the genus Porites based on their visual similarities, however, Porites can be distinguished from Montipora by examining the structure of the corallites. [5]
Montipora corals are common on reefs and lagoons of the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific Ocean, but are entirely absent in the Atlantic Ocean. [4]
Montipora corals are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners. [6] Spawning typically happens in spring. [6] The eggs of Montipora corals already contain zooxanthellae, so none is obtained from the environment. [6] [7] This process is known as direct or vertical transmission. [3]
Montipora corals are preyed upon by corallivorous fish, such as butterflyfish. [8] Montipora corals are known to host endo- and ectoparasites such as Allopodion mirum and Xarifia extensa. [1] A currently undescribed species of nudibranch in the genus Phestilla has also been reported in the scientific and aquarium hobbyist literature to feed on the genus. [9]
Montipora corals are susceptible to the same stresses as other Scleractinian corals, such as anthropogenic pollution, sediment, algal growth, and other competitive organisms. [6]
A 2007 study found that the genus Montipora formed a strongly supported clade with Anacropora , making it the genus with the closest genetic relationship to Montipora. [10] It is thought that Anacropora evolved from Montipora relatively recently. [7]