Description

Also known as Bowl Coral, Cabbage Coral, Cap Coral, Cup Coral, Encrusting Pore Coral, Leaf Coral, Lettuce Coral, Plate Coral, Scroll Coral, Swirling Plate Coral, Vase Coral.

Found in colonies, over drop-offs, reef flats, and terraces, in shallow water, coral and rocky reefs. They look like giant cabbages. Colour varies brown, green, and yellow, with a pale edge.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 100cm
Depth - 2-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Stony corals have hard stony skeletons, their polyps have six tentacles or are made up of multiples of six. These are usually nocturnal, however if the sky's are overcast, then many will feed during the day.
Generally the more robust corals life on exposed areas, while the smaller corals live in sheltered lagoons or deeper waters.
Stony corals are reef building corals and embedded in their flesh are thousands of minute single-celled marine plants called zooxanthellae which accounts for their colour.
These corals support a huge diversity of life, their main predator being the crown-of-thorns sea star. (edit) Ref: http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/montipora-florida/