Characters: Colonies are irregularly submassive or encrusting. Corallites are circular. Septa taper from the wall to the columella and are in three cycles; those of the primary cycle are usually exsert, widely spaced, and have well developed paliform lobes. Most colonies have at least some development of ‘groove and tubercle’ structures.
Colour: Mottled or uniform green and brown, with darker calices.
Similar Species: Phymastrea multipunctata. Astrea curta have no ‘groove and tubercle’ formation and septa are much less dentate. See also Phymastrea valenciennesi.
Habitat: Protected reef backs and lagoons.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Veron, Pichon and Wijsman-Best (1977); Veron (2000a); Huang, Benzoni, Fukami et al. (2014);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
