Characters: Colonies are encrusting or composed of thin unifacial laminae often arranged in oblique overlapping whorls and sometimes forming tubes. Corallites are immersed or exsert and are surrounded by thecal papillae. These are frequently fused into short ridges near margins and may form hoods over the corallites. Coenosteum papillae are thick and fused.
Colour: Usually a uniform brown, cream or purple, with pale margins. Sometimes brightly coloured.
Similar Species: Montipora crassituberculata, which has larger corallites and more papillae. Corallites resemble those of several other species, notably M. peltiformis.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments.
Abundance: Common; may be a dominant species on sheltered upper reef slopes.
Taxonomic Note: A species complex.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Wallace (1984); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Coles (1996); Pillay, Terashima, Venkatasami et al. (2002); Pichon, Benzoni, Chaineau et al. (2010); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
