Mountainous Star Coral
| Name: | Mountainous Star Coral |
| Scientific Name: | Orbicella faveolata |
| Family: | Star Corals |
| Taxonomic: | Merulinidae |
| ID Group: | Corals, Algae |
| Size: | up to 8 ft. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Seen often |
This Star Coral forms large colonies that grow as rounded domes or flat, wide sheets. Its surface is smooth and covered with small cone-shaped bumps. The polyps are evenly spaced, and its color can be green, brown, or yellow-brown.
The Mountainous Star Coral often grows in plate-like shapes in deeper waters, helping it capture more light where sunlight is limited. In shallower areas, it typically forms large domes or mounds.