Clusters of light brown to darker brown corallites forming encrusting plates and mounds (hence Montastraea = Mountainous in the former scientific designation) that can spread over several tens of centimetres.

NOTE: The species was until recently known as Montastraea franksii. It is part of a group that includes another two variations known as Orbicella annularis (formerly Montastraea annularis) and Orbicella faveolata. All three belonged to the Faviidae family, but this has now also been renamed to Montastraeidae (in other words what used to be designation is now transferred to family name). This being said, the vernacular names in English and French have remained unchanged.  

Detailed descriptions in the little available literature on the Montastaelidae family (formely Faviidae) is scarce and often contradictory. However, it appears that the Boulder Star Coral distiguishes itself from the Great Star Coral (q.v.) in having corallites that form less less prominent cones (in other words with lower-gradient side walls). Coloration (light brown most common around Ilets Pigeon) and bleaching depend on the nature or absence of zooxanthellae.

Zooxanthellae are microscopic photosynthetic algae that live in symbiosis with corals. The latter provide shelter in exchange of which the zooxanthellae supply certain nutriments (including glucose and aminoacids relutling from photosynthesis) that enable them to eventually produce the calcium carbonate used to form their structure. When under stress - as happens with sudden temperature surges - coral expel their zooanthellae which causes them to lose their coloration in a phenomenon known as bleaching.   

Flatish yellow to light brown elongated body with faint thin white line running from snout to tail. Bright yellow fins and tailfin, yellow to light grey belly.

NOTICE: This sharksucker variation does not appear to have been described, hence our unofficial "Yellow Sharksucker" designation

Typical Snapper outline with long sloping forehead and pointed snout BUT:

Juvenile: pale pink-silver body with light yellow horizontal lines, dark spot below dorsal fin and yellow ventral and anal fins. Incidentally the dark spot distinguishes it from the otherwise quite similar Mahogany Snapper (q.v.).

Intermediate: A rarely observed intermediate phase seen in our title picture is devoid of black spot.

Older specimens (not seen here): Boast a more resolutely silvery body with very faint horizontal lines, silvery fins and black dot below dorsal fin.

Yellow to light brown. Round-section branches are covered in hard corallites, but tipped with a white corallite, which has nothing to do with coral bleaching disease.

Orange crest on "forehead"