Montipora patula

Montipora patula Verrill, 1869
Sandpaper rice coral

photo by Veron, Charlie (J.E.N.)

Family:	Acroporidae ()
Max. size:
Environment:	reef-associated; marine
Distribution:	Eastern Central Pacific: Endemic to Hawaii.
Diagnosis:	Colonies: encrusting or tiered plates, sometimes over 200 cm across. Plates: free edges. Corallites: small; irregular in height. Papillae: concentrated around the corallites. Tan. Polyps: usually purple (Ref. 846).
Biology:	Colonies over 200 cm across (Ref. 846). Shallow reef environments (Ref. 846).
IUCN Red List Status:	Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 27 April 2023 (A3ce) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:	harmless
Country info:

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