Characters: Colonies are massive. The surface is often deeply grooved. Corallites are widely spaced. Septa are in three unequal orders with the first order being exsert. The coenosteum between the corallites is usually smooth. Irregular ‘groove and tubercle’ formations may be present.
Colour: The coenosteum is generally whitish, with contrasting pale brown or green corallites. Septa are sometimes orange.
Similar Species: Cyphastrea ocellina, which has smaller, more crowded corallites. Both C. japonica and Leptastrea inaequalis have more crowded corallites with thicker walls.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic Note: A species complex.
Taxonomic References: Veron (2000a); Huang, Benzoni, Fukami et al. (2014);
Identification Guides: Nishihira and Veron (1995); Fenner (2005); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
