Montipora australiensis coral

Montipora australiensis is a species of coral likely found in the western Indian Ocean and western Pacific from Malaysia to Vanuatu and southern Japan to northern Australia. Colonies of Montipora australiensis are pale brown, forming thick plates and irregular columns.

Montipora australiensis is listed as threatened throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act.

Learn more about Montipora australiensis (PDF, 3 pages) 

Colonies of Montipora australiensis are pale brown, forming thick plates and irregular columns.

Based on confirmed observations and strong predictions of occurrence in areas that have not yet been surveyed sufficiently, Montipora australiensis is likely distributed in the western Indian Ocean and western Pacific from Malaysia to Vanuatu and southern Japan to northern Australia.

Montipora australiensis occurs predominantly on upper reef slopes, lower reef crests, and reef flats, and it likely also occurs on mid-slopes and possibly other habitats at depths of 2 to 30 meters.

The reproductive characteristics of Montipora australiensis have not been determined, however, 35 other species of Montipora are all hermaphroditic (having both male and female gametes) broadcast spawners. Broadcast spawners release both male and female gametes into the water column and fertilization takes place externally.

Ocean Warming

A significant proportion of its current known geographic range is within the Coral Triangle area. Tis area is projected to have the most rapid and severe impacts from climate change and localized human impacts for coral reefs over the 21st century. Multiple ocean warming events have already occurred within the western equatorial Pacific (which includes the Coral Triangle area) that suggest future ocean warming events may be more severe than average in this part of the world.