Physical Description

Montipora digitata can be found growing in colonies that are digitate (finger or hand like) or arborescent (tree like) with anastomosing upright branches (AIMS 2011). This species has smooth coenosteum and small corallites, especially in shallow water. M. digitata occurs in a range of colours including pale cream, brown, pink or blue (AIMS 2011). This species is primarily found in shallow reef environments including areas with extreme tidal conditions or shallow mud flats.

M. digitata has very small corallites which range between 0.5 to 1 mm (Kelly 2010). Compared to Porites corals, they have less obvious and less well-defined walls (Kelly 2010). The wall of a colony of M. digitata feels like sandpaper. M. digitata can also be distinguished from Anacropora corals as M. digitata has blunter tips on eachstalk and their corallites do not rise above the colony surface (Kelly 2010).

Corals can be very difficult to identify. However, a simple way to identify a coral’s genus is by using Russel Kelley’s Indo Pacific Coral Finder. This book was very helpful for the identification of our coral and has the extra benefit of being waterproof. More information about this book can be found at http://www.byoguides.com/coralfinder/overview/.