Montipora

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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.[2]

Description

File:Euphyllia ancora3.jpg
Near Magnetic Island

Growth morphologies for the genus Montipora include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching.[3][4] It is not uncommon for a single Montipora colony to display more than one growth morphology.[4] Healthy Montipora corals can be a variety of colors, including orange, brown, pink, green, blue, purple, yellow, grey, or tan.[4] Although they are typically uniform in color, some species, such as Montipora spumosa or Montipora verrucosa, may display a mottled appearance.[4]

Montipora corals have the smallest corallites of any coral family.[4] Columellae are not present.[4] Coenosteum and corallite walls are porous, which can result in elaborate structures.[4] The coenosteum of each Montipora species is different, making it useful for identification.[4] Polyps are typically only extended at night.[4]

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.[4]

Distribution

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.[3]

Ecology

Montipora corals are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners.[5] Spawning typically happens in spring.[5] The eggs of Montipora corals already contain zooxanthellae, so none is obtained from the environment.[5][6] This process is known as direct or vertical transmission.[2]

Montipora corals are preyed upon by corallivorous fish, such as butterflyfish.[7] 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.[8]

Montipora corals are susceptible to the same stresses as other Scleractinian corals, such as anthropogenic pollution, sediment, algal growth, and other competitive organisms.[5]

Evolutionary history

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.[9] It is thought that Anacropora evolved from Montipora relatively recently.[6]

Gallery

Species

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References

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