The Rare Hawaiian Coral

The species has been subject to significant conservation concern due to its limited geographic range and the degradation of its primary habitat in Kaneohe Bay.

Conservation efforts include ex-situ propagation and monitoring of wild colonies to mitigate the effects of environmental stressors.

Montipora dilatata is a scleractinian coral characterized by its encrusting or foliaceous growth form. It is a critical component of the local marine biodiversity in Hawaii.

This coral contributes to the structural complexity of the reef, which is essential for maintaining high levels of species richness in the surrounding ecosystem.

The coral maintains a delicate balance with its endosymbiotic zooxanthellae. It also utilizes nematocysts on its tentacles to capture prey from the water column.