Characters: Colonies are generally branching and vary from perforated plates to cushion-shaped. Branches may be flattened or tapered. Axial corallites are often devoid of radial corallites on their upper surface. Radial corallites are all similar and are usually aligned along branches. They change along the branch from immersed to tubular and appressed.
Colour: Usually dark brown or greenish brown, sometimes with light brown or blue branch tips or dark blue with whitish tips.
Similar Species: A. natalensis which forms prostrate or plate-like colonies. See also A. nasuta and A. stoddarti.
Habitat: Upper reef slopes, lagoons and fringing reefs.
Abundance: Common, may be a dominant species.
Taxonomic Note: A species complex.
Taxonomic References: Wallace (1978); Veron and Wallace (1984); Wallace (1999); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
