Irregular, protuberant, calcified mass covered with undifferentiated tissue. Cells lack symbiotic algae and structural organization of normal tissue. Proliferates through rapid growth and multiplication of calicoblastic epithelial cells. Affects acroporids . Stegastes planifrons three spot damselfish actively defends coral.
Patches are often slightly depressed with respect to the rest of the colony surface.
Patches reported to spread outward, with slow mortality of affected tissue. Affects Stephanocoenia intersepta, Siderastrea siderea, and S. radians . Primarily affects brain corals and star corals. Live, fully pigmented tissue forms a sharp boundary with areas denuded of tissue and skeleton. Sparisoma viride also frequently excavate M. annularis and M. faveolata .