The tiny peach-colored gametes released by this Mountainous Star coral (Montastraea faveolata) during a coral spawning event will float to the surface, break apart into eggs and sperm, and disperse throughout the water. While the corals are hemaphroditic (both male and female), the eggs and sperm of each individual coral colony will not fertilize. They must find the eggs and sperm of other colonies in order for fertilization to take place.