Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Leaf plating montipora
Size:
These corals grow quicker the closer they are to a light source. Colonies of leaf plating montipora can reach the size of a football field!
Diet:
Using its polyps, leaf plating montipora filter organic compounds and small marine organisms from the water in their environment. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
Often found in lagoons, leaf plating montipora exists in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
Details:
Leaf plating montipora range in color from purple and blue to brown. In strong currents, this coral develops tightly wound, compact formations, while in calmer waters, it expands into broad, flat plates. Despite its delicate, thin plates, small fragments can break off and regrow into new colonies, aiding in reef recovery.