Habitat: Tend to inhabit shallow to moderate reefs, between 25-45 feet. Prefer clear water. Generally in protected areas of shallower reefs and all deeper reef enviroments. Usually deeper than the similar S. radians. Characteristics: Form rounded heads, boulders or domes. Surface covered with small, generally systricaly round, pitted corallites. Light gray to golden-brown and brown; color uniform, corallites not dark at center. Young colonies are small, encrusting and difficult to distinghish from S. radians.