Characters: Colonies are encrusting to submassive with exsert corallites surrounded by a neat circle of thecal papillae. Coenosteum papillae are also prominent, giving colonies a spiny appearance.
Colour: Mottled brown, cream or red-brown.
Similar Species: Montipora efflorescens, which has a mounded surface and more clearly differentiated coenosteum and thecal papillae. See also M. peltiformis.
Habitat: Reef environments.
Abundance: Common in the Red Sea, rare elsewhere.
Taxonomic References: Scheer and Pillai (1983); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Sheppard and Sheppard (1991);