Characters: Colonies are hemispherical to flat and are seldom more than 0.2 metres across. Valleys are short and usually less than 25 millimetres wide. Walls are thick and in extreme cases can have an ambulacral groove which is wider than the valleys (similar to Diploria labyrinthiformis). Costae and septa are both thick. Septa have large blunt spines. Columellae are large and centred in valleys.
Colour: Cream.
Similar Species: Symphyllia agaricia, which forms large colonies and usually has columellae in two rows. Easily confused with Lobophyllia hataii unless seen where these species occur together.
Habitat: Exposed upper reef slopes and reef flats.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Pillai and Scheer (1976); Veron (2000a);
