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Montipora Samarensis
AdvancedMontipora samarensis
A thin, plating Montipora restricted to shallow water from the surface to about 15 m, ranging across the Indo-West Pacific. Rarely traded, and an SPS that needs strong light.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
24〜27℃
Size
Colonies to several tens of cm
Diet
Mainly nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae, supplemented with powdered coral foods and phytoplankton.
About
Montipora samarensis is a reef-building acroporid of the Indo-West Pacific. SeaLifeBase gives its depth range as 0-15 m, making it one of the more strictly shallow-water species in the genus. The epithet refers to Samar Island in the Philippines, and the species was described by Nemenzo in 1967. Colonies grow as overlapping thin plates that lift from an encrusting base. The corallites are small and the surface is smoother than in other plating congeners. It is zooxanthellate and draws most of its nutrition from photosynthesis. As a shallow-water species it is adapted to strong illumination and needs bright lighting in the aquarium. Stable alkalinity and calcium govern colour and growth, and tissue recedes readily after abrupt changes in water chemistry. It is not commonly traded in Japan. The IUCN assessed it as Endangered in 2023, and as a scleractinian it is listed on CITES Appendix II.
Source: SeaLifeBase
Temperature & humidity for the Montipora Samarensis
The ideal temperature for the Montipora Samarensis is 24〜27℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Indo-West Pacific, on reefs from the surface down to about 15 m
Size
Colonies to several tens of cm
Temperature
24〜27℃
Diet
Mainly nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae, supplemented with powdered coral foods and phytoplankton.
Care Guide
Care Specifications
- Carbonate (KH)
- 8–12 dKH
- Water Temp.
- 24–27℃
- Specific Gravity
- 1.023–1.025
- Salinity
- 33–35 ppt
- Calcium (Ca)
- 400–450 ppm
- Magnesium (Mg)
- 1280–1350 ppm
SPSPeacefulLight: High (PAR>150)Flow: HighPlacement: Top
Sources: SeaLifeBase (Montipora samarensis) / LiveAquaria (Smooth Encrusting Montipora Coral) /
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Montipora samarensis Nemenzo, 1967
Authority databases: WoRMS
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
CITES Appendix IIIUCN EN · Endangered
Sources: CITES Appendix II (Scleractinia spp. listed as an order) / IUCN Red List 2025-2 (assessed 2023, via SeaLifeBase)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Montipora Samarensis Listings
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