Species · GBIF taxon 2260050
Great Star Coral
Montastraea cavernosaAlso known as Large Star Coral, Cavernous Star Coral
Great star coral forms massive, enduring boulders and plates that serve as foundational pillars of Caribbean reefs. During the day, the colony resembles a surface of tightly packed, crater-like cups, but at night, thumb-sized polyps emerge to capture passing plankton. Some colonies exhibit striking fluorescent green or orange hues under specialized lighting, showcasing their symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae.
NocturnalReef-BuildingMarine
- diet
- Plankton and nutrients from symbiotic zooxanthellae
- family
- Montastraeidae
- threats
- Stony coral tissue loss disease, coral bleaching, and ocean acidification
- life Span
- Centuries
LC
Delicate living tissue is easily damaged by touch; maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid contact.
Highly vulnerable to Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and physical damage from anchors or divers.
Never touch the colony, anchor nearby, or kick up sediment that can smother the polyps.- Night Diving: Watch the large, thumb-sized polyps fully expand to feed under a dive light.
- Buoyancy Control: Secure all gear and maintain a safe distance to prevent scraping the colony.
- Look for Fluorescence: Use a blue light at night to see some colonies glow bright green or orange.