Characters: Colonies are encrusting or thin unifacial laminae but are sometimes submassive or columnar. Corallites are usually widely spaced and circular, with pillar-like columellae and smooth alternating septo-costae. They may occur in concentric rows.
Colour: Grey, brown, pink, purple, green or yellow, sometimes mottled.
Similar Species: Pavona gigantea. Distinct from other Pavona but resembles Leptoseris explanata, which has smaller corallites.
Habitat: Most reef environments.
Abundance: Common.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Pichon (1980); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Coles (1996); Carpenter, Harrison, Hodgson et al. (1997); Pillay, Terashima, Venkatasami et al. (2002); Pichon, Benzoni, Chaineau et al. (2010); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
