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Mountainous Star Coral ready to spawn (Montastraea faveolata)

080822, Anthozoans: Anthozoa, Cnidarians: Cnidaria, Faviidae, Faviina, Hexacorals: Hexacorallia, Invertebrates, Marine Life, Mountainous star coral: Montastraea faveolata, Stony Corals: Scleractina: Scleractinia, copyrighted, coral, egg, marine, ocean, spawning, underwater, underwater photo, wide angle

Each coral polyp in this Mountainous Star coral (Montastraea faveolata) is preparing to release their gametes into the water column simultaneously. Corals use this broadcast spawning method to reduce predation and improve the chances of fertilization.