Characters: Colonies are encrusting or have short irregular lobes with rounded surfaces, or are columnar. Corallites have walls composed of interconnected rods and spines and long spine-like septa. Columellae are usually present and are sometimes well developed. Polyps are tightly compacted and are long, usually with slightly expanded tentacle tips.
Colour: Usually yellow, green or brown with white oral cones.
Similar Species: Alveopora catalai, which has larger corallites and a branching growth-form. A. marionensis has smaller corallites but a similar growth-form. See also A. gigas.
Habitat: Protected reef environments.
Abundance: Usually uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Wells (1954); Veron and Pichon (1982); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Nishihira and Veron (1995);