Montipora delicatula
Veron, 2000
Description: Colonies are composed of very thin unifacial laminae which are usually contorted. Corallites are inconspicuous, in rows between coenosteum ridges. Coenosteum ridges are irregular.
Color: Pale brown, becoming paler towards colony margins. Coenosteum ridges are usually pale.
Habitat: Restricted to shallow reef edges.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Similar Species: Montipora florida. See also M. hodgsoni.
Taxonomic note: See ‘New species described in Corals of the World’ (Veron, in preparation) for further information. This species was called Montipora pulcherrima Bernard by Nemenzo (1976) and Montipora sp. 2 by Veron and Hodgson (1989). Source reference: Veron (2000).
Forming whorls. Apo Island, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Detail of a plate. Negros, Philippines Photograph: Doug Fenner
Forming a complex of tiers and whorls. Apo Island, Philippines Photograph: Charlie Veron
Skeletal detail. Drawing: Geoff Kelly