Characters: Colonies are encrusting to submassive. Corallites are 4-6 millimetres diameter. A ‘groove and tubercle’ formation may be present, but corallites are cerioid to subplocoid, retaining individual walls. Septa have smooth or slightly serrated margins, are widely spaced, and plunge steeply within the corallite. Columellae are rudimentary, consisting of thickened inner septal margins. Polyps are fleshy.
Colour: Brown with greenish calices.
Similar Species: Leptastrea bewickensis, which is fully cerioid, has more irregular septa and has small columellae. Blastomussa merleti has similar fleshy polyps. The smooth septa resemble those of Galaxea and Simplastrea.
Habitat: Reef environments.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic Note: Benzoni, Arrigoni, Waheed et al. (2014) correctly note that the holotype of Parasimplastrea sheppardi (intended to clarify nomenclatural issues for P. omanensis) was a Blastomussa loyae in error. They further assign Parasimplastrea omanensis to the genus Blastomussa largely based on genetic evidence. However, the species is morphologically distinct and warrants a separate genus. Despite nomenclatural issues, the name Parasimplastrea omanensis is retained here pending further study.
Taxonomic References: Sheppard (1985b) as Parasimplastrea simplicitexta; Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Benzoni, Arrigoni, Waheed et al. (2014);
