Characters: Colonies are hemispherical or, more usually, form short thick columns. Columellae and oral cones are small. Polyps are elongate when fully extended.
Colour: Usually brown, yellow or green, often with contrasting oral cones and tentacle tips.
Similar Species: Goniopora columna, which has large columellae and oral cones. Goniopora stokesi has high ragged walls and broad columellae.
Habitat: Forms large single species stands, especially in turbid water.
Abundance: Common.
Taxonomic References: Veron and Pichon (1982); Veron (2000a);
Identification Guides: Veron (1986a); Nishihira and Veron (1995); Carpenter, Harrison, Hodgson et al. (1997); Chan, Choi, McCorry et al. (2005); Pichon, Benzoni, Chaineau et al. (2010); Turak and DeVantier (2011b);