831 species

Montipora digitata

(Dana, 1846)

Montipora

Quoy and Gaimard, 1830

Characters: Colonies are digitate or arborescent with anastomosing upright branches. Corallites are immersed and small, especially in colonies from shallow water. The coenosteum is smooth.

Colour: Pale cream or brown, sometimes pink or blue.

Similar Species: Montipora samarensis. See also M. altasepta.

Habitat: Shallow reef environments. May be a dominant species of shallow mud flats.

Abundance: Common.

Taxonomic Note: A species complex. Species boundaries with the nominal species Montipora tortuosa (Dana, 1846) require further study (Stobart, 2000).

COTW History since Veron (2000a)
  • Family: All families are currently under review
  • Genus/species: No change