Characters: Colonies are phaceloid, rarely subplocoid. Corallites are 9-14 millimetres diameter. Septa are not arranged in cycles and are numerous. They have small blunt teeth. Mantles, but not tentacles, are extended during the day and may form a continuous surface obscuring the underlying growth-form.
Colour: Mantles are usually dark grey, but may be red or green. Oral discs are usually green but may be red or dark grey.
Similar Species: Blastomussa vivida which has larger corallites with more septa. See also Nemenzophyllia turbida and Phymastrea multipunctata, both of which have fleshy mantles.
Habitat: Lower reef slopes protected from wave action, and turbid environments.
Abundance: Uncommon, rare in the Red Sea.
Taxonomic References: Wijsman-Best (1973); Chevalier (1975); Veron and Pichon (1980);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Pichon, Benzoni, Chaineau et al. (2010); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
