Characters: Corals are solitary, usually cones with a pointed base. Septa are of very contrasting sizes, the largest being extremely large with very large rounded dentations. Smaller septa are thin, the smallest being almost devoid of dentations. Costae are sub-equal. Columellae are large and compact. Paliform lobes are absent or nearly so. Polyps are very fleshy, with thick tissue hiding the underlying skeleton.

Colour: Concentric pale to dark greens reds and browns combined with radial striations.

Similar Species: Skeletal structures are close to Cynarina lacrymalis except that the paliform crown is absent or nearly so and primary septa are larger. Soft tissue is like Indophyllia macassarensis and Cynarina lacrymalis in being very thick and opaque, obscuring the underlying skeleton. Acanthophyllia deshayesiana is larger than both these species.

Habitat: Deep soft substrates.

Abundance: Rare except in deep inter-reef areas.