831 species

Montipora stilosa

(Ehrenberg, 1834)

Montipora

Quoy and Gaimard, 1830

Characters: Colonies are encrusting to submassive with exsert corallites surrounded by a neat circle of thecal papillae. Coenosteum papillae are also prominent, giving colonies a spiny appearance.

Colour: Mottled brown, cream or red-brown.

Similar Species: Montipora efflorescens, which has a mounded surface and more clearly differentiated coenosteum and thecal papillae. See also M. peltiformis.

Habitat: Reef environments.

Abundance: Common in the Red Sea, rare elsewhere.

Taxonomic References: Scheer and Pillai (1983); Veron (2000a);

Identification Guides: Sheppard and Sheppard (1991);

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