Characters: Colonies are encrusting to massive, with a tendency to form columns. Corallites are usually widely spaced and conical, with clearly alternating costae which are easily visible underwater. There are 12 primary septa.
Colour: Usually uniform brown, green or cream with corallite walls and calices of contrasting colours.
Similar Species: Cyphastrea serailia.
Habitat: A wide range of reefs, also rocky foreshores of subtropical locations.
Abundance: Common, but less so than C. serailia.
Taxonomic References: Veron, Pichon and Wijsman-Best (1977); Wijsman-Best (1980); Veron (2000a); Huang, Benzoni, Fukami et al. (2014);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Pillay, Terashima, Venkatasami et al. (2002); Chan, Choi, McCorry et al. (2005); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
