Characters: Colonies are columnar, usually with thin explanate basal plates. They are usually lobed, and may be large. Corallites are deep, polygonal to rounded, with short septa. Paliform lobes are prominent. Columellae are poorly developed.
Colour: Polyps are a mass of grey tentacles when extended.
Similar Species: Goniopora fruticosa, which has fused branches rather than columns and is distinctively coloured. See also G. burgosi, which has similar polyps but is submassive and G. planulata, which has larger polyps.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments.
Abundance: Uncommon but distinctive.
Taxonomic References: Scheer and Pillai (1983); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Pillay, Terashima, Venkatasami et al. (2002);
