Main Ref.	Veron, J.E.N., 2000
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosi	Formation: massive, less than 0.5 m across, usually flattened. Corallites: rounded, with thick walls, 10 to 15 mm in diameter. Septa: rounded, bead-like dentations only in living colonies. Color: browns and grays; corallite walls and centers often differently colored, commonly with radial stripes (Ref. 848).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Mussismilia hispida

Lateral Lines	Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
totale
Vertebre
preanal
totale

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No.	dorsale
	Ventral
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral	Attributes
	spines
	soft-rays
Pelvics	Attributes
	Position
	spines
	soft-rays