Characters: Colonies are massive and mostly spherical. Corallites are circular and closely compacted. Corallites are small (3-4 mm diameter), exsert and have very thick walls. Corallites may face different directions according to place of budding. Septa are evenly spaced and strongly alternate. Costae are strongly beaded. Paliform crowns are well developed. Columellae are small.
Colour: Tan or cream, sometimes with dark centres.
Similar Species: Astrea curta. See also Favia stelligera.
Habitat: Shallow environments, especially reef flats.
Abundance: Rare.
Taxonomic Note: Previously placed in genus Montastraea.
Taxonomic References: Nemenzo (1959); Veron (2000a); Huang, Benzoni, Fukami et al. (2014);
Identification Guides: Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
