Montipora verrucosa
(Lamarck, 1816)
Colonies are submassive, form columns, or are laminar. The surface is uniformly covered with large rounded verrucae. Corallites are immersed between the verrucae.
Colour:
Blue or brown, uniform or mottled. Bright blue (which may photograph purple) or green tentacles are sometimes extended during the day.
Habitat:
Upper reef slopes and lagoons.
Abundance:
Sometimes common.
Similar species:
Montipora palawanensis ,
Montipora verruculosus
Taxonomic note:
Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Veron and Wallace (1984). Additional identification guides: Veron (1986), Sheppard and Sheppard (1991), Nishihira and Veron (1995).
Map
displaying probable distribution of species. Points indicate recorded sightings from OBIS.
Montipora verrucosa .
Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Column formation.
John Barnett.
Montipora verrucosa .
Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Encrusting growth form.
Charlie Veron.
Montipora verrucosa .
Vanuatu.
Showing regular appearance of verrucae away from colony centre.
Charlie Veron.
Montipora verrucosa .
Papua New Guinea.
Showing irregular appearance of verrucae near the edge of colony.
Charlie Veron.
Montipora verrucosa .
Skeletal detail.
Geoff Kelly.
Montipora verrucosa .
Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Showing corallites.
Montipora verrucosa .
Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Showing plate surface.
Montipora verrucosa .
Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Showing massive colony.
