It is a reef building species and is found in tropical parts of the Pacific Ocean.

Montipora capitata is an encrusting, colonial coral which develops arborescent forms as it matures.

[3][4] Montipora capitata is found in the tropical north and central Pacific Ocean at depths down to 20 metres (66 ft).

[1] The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), seems to preferentially feed on corals of the genus Montipora.

Other threats are posed by El Nino events, ocean acidification which tends to dissolve the coral skeleton, trawling and other fishing activities, pollution and sedimentation.