Characters: Colonies are thick or thin encrusting plates, sometimes over 2 metres across, with shallow calices forming a smooth surface. Corallites are 3-5 millimetres diameter. Polyps are short, giving colonies a carpet-like appearance, but are often retracted during the day.
Colour: Usually grey or brown, often with polyps and surrounding tissue of contrasting colour.
Similar Species: Goniopora polyformis, which does not form big colonies and has irregular upgrowths. Alveopora spongiosa may have a similar growth-form and colouration.
Habitat: Sheltered reef environments, especially beneath overhangs.
Abundance: Uncommon but conspicuous.
Taxonomic References: Wells (1954); Veron and Pichon (1982); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Randall and Myers (1983); Veron (1986a); Sheppard and Sheppard (1991); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);
