Montastraea annularis

Montastraea annularis

Montastraea annularis is a stony coral, which is found in the Caribbean, the tropical western Atlantic from Florida to Colombia. In the Caribbean, it is one of the most important reef-building corals.

Features

Your growth form of their colonies is dependent on the flow and depth of water. They grow in shallow water massive and form small domes, in deeper water, up to 80 meters, they grow flat and wide and may overlap in shingle fashion. The Koralliten smaller than Montastraea cavernosa and conically shaped, the diameter of one centimeter achieved polyps are nocturnal. During the day the Koralliten are thick coated with inflated coral tissue, the tentacles are retracted. The spaces between the polyps are always clearly visible. The color varies and can be brown, reddish brown, gray, green or beige. The small pike blennies Acanthemblemaria maria and Emblemaria Pandionis sometimes live in holes in the Montastraea annularis colonies.

System

Montastraea annularis is made in the traditional stone coral systematics in the Faviidae family, which is considered polyphyletic today than in the highest degree. In a recent phylogenetic study, it is the sister species of a large clade of genera from the families Faviidae, Merulinidae, Pectiniidae and Trachyphylliidae.