Characters: Colonies are usually flat. Valleys radiate from a flat central area and have steep sides and flat floors. Walls have a moderately fleshy appearance and usually have a groove along the top. Septa are thick, with large teeth. Polyps may be fleshy.
Colour: Usually grey, brown or mottled, with valley floors and walls of contrasting colours.
Similar Species: Symphyllia agaricia, which may have valleys of similar size but these are not flat. See also Lobophyllia hataii, which is composed primarily of valleys rather than a flat central area. Lobophyllia flabelliformis also has large fleshy polyps.
Habitat: Lower reef slopes protected from wave action and rocky foreshores of subtropical locations.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Chevalier (1975); Veron and Pichon (1980); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
