Belongs to the Brown Algae category in spite of its usually predominent green colour (algae are subdivided into four colours: Brown, Green, Red and Blue-Green.

 It appears that this alga has not been formally described, hence the lack of scientific designation. There in addition appears to be a number of  controversial debates as to whether it really belongs or not to the alga category due to the alleged lack of nucleus in its cells.

Clusters of light brown corallites forming encrusting plates and mounds that can spread over several tens of centimetres. Inner edge of the corallite generally green.

NOTE: The species was until recently known as Montastraea faveolata. It is part of a group that includes another two variations known as Orbicella annularis (formerly Montastraea annularis) and Orbicella franksi. 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 English and French vernacular names have remained unchanged.  

Detailed descriptions in the little available literature on the Montastaelidae family (formely Faviidae) is scarce and often contradictory. However, it visually appears that the Mountainous Star Coral distiguishes itself from the Great Star Coral (q.v.) in having strongly fluted corallites with very prominent septa. 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.