Brief Summary  Read full entry  Montipora is a genus of
scleractinian or reef-building coral closely related to Acropora
(Family Acroporidae), with typical growthform plate-like,
encrusting, submassive, and foliaceous colony. Most corals,
including Montipora, live as colonies of individuals (or polyps)
and have endosymbiotic zooxanthellae that dwells inside polyp’s
cells, thus producing energy and shading different color for the
coral colonies. Related to major threats of corals, that is high
temperatures affected by the global climate change, Montipora
corals are susceptible to bleaching, disease, extreme weather
and climate phenomena, as well as ocean acidification.
Montipora corals flourish in shallow reef environments with
bright sunlight and moderate wave motion, although they can
survive in all reef habitats from high-energy upper reef slopes
to deeper lagoonal reefs. Small crevices among Montipora
colonies provide habitats for small reef fishes, like
Pomacentridae. At present, Montipora is estimated t