Characters: Colonies have an encrusting or laminar base, with closely compacted short upright branches. Coenosteum ridges are mostly vertical but may be irregular. Corallites are large and prominent.
Colour: Dark brown, usually with white coenosteum ridges and branch tips.
Similar Species: Montipora confusa has larger, more prominent coenosteum ridges and smaller corallites. Underwater, colour differences are distinctive. See also M. undata.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments and rocky foreshores.
Abundance: Uncommon but distinctive.
Taxonomic Note: Morphological differences with Montipora confusa and M. undata, notably in form of coenosteum ridges, are most easily seen where these species co-occur.
Taxonomic References: Veron (2000a); Veron (2002a);
Identification Guides: Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
