[2] The reproductive traits of Montipora fabellata (Studer 1901)[3] show a narrow distribution and are typically restricted to shallow water with high wave energy and irradiance with an encrusting growth form.

Encrusting lilac, pink, blue, or rarely brown sheets with calices immersed between irregular ridges of fused rods.

[7][8] There are recordings of highest predicted cover for M. flabellata along the east coasts of Kauai and Oʻahu and wave sheltered areas of Maui Nui.

[9] This hard coral is common in shallow water exposed to surge, in the highest wave energy environments.

[9] Most coral where spawning was linked to the new moon, M. flabellata does not appear to follow a similarly correlated lunar phase environmental cue.

Both light and heavy M. flabellata spawns were spread throughout most of the summer in years monitored and without a clearly delineated lunar phase.