Growth morphologies for the genus Montipora include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching.
It is not uncommon for a single Montipora colony to display more than one growth morphology.
Healthy Montipora corals can be a variety of colors, including orange, brown, pink, green, blue, purple, yellow, grey, or tan.
Although they are typically uniform in color, some species, such as Montipora spumosa or Montipora verrucosa, may display a mottled appearance.

Montipora corals have the smallest corallites of any coral family.
Columellae are not present.
Coenosteum and corallite walls are porous, which can result in elaborate structures.
The coenosteum of each Montipora species is different, making it useful for identification.
Polyps are typically only extended at night.

Montipora corals are commonly mistaken for members of the genus Porites based on their visual similarities, however, Porites can be distinguished from Montipora by examining the structure of the corallites.
Growth morphologies for the genus Montipora include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching. It is not uncommon for a single Montipora colony to display more than one growth morphology. Healthy Montipora corals can be a variety of colors, including orange, brown, pink, green, blue, purple, yellow, grey, or tan. Although they are typically uniform in color, some species, such as Montipora spumosa or Montipora verrucosa, may display a mottled appearance.
Montipora corals have the smallest corallites of any coral family. Columellae are not present. Coenosteum and corallite walls are porous, which can result in elaborate structures. The coenosteum of each Montipora species is different, making it useful for identification. Polyps are typically only extended at night.
Montipora corals are commonly mistaken for members of the genus Porites based on their visual similarities, however, Porites can be distinguished from Montipora by examining the structure of the corallites.
Montipora