Characters: Colonies are submassive and usually lobed. They may be over 2 metres across. Corallites have irregular spiny walls. Polyps are often retracted during the day, but are elongate when extended giving colonies a mop-like appearance.
Colour: Grey or pinkish brown when polyps are retracted, brown when polyps are extended.
Similar Species: Alveopora verrilliana, which can readily be distinguished by the palisade of spines around the corallites.
Habitat: Exposed reef slopes.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Hodgson (1989); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Nishihira and Veron (1995); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
