Balanophyllia bonaespei is a species of solitary cup coral, a stony coral in the family Dendrophylliidae.

[2] It is an azooxanthellate species that does not contain symbiotic dinoflagellates in its tissues as most corals do.

[1] Cup corals are solitary hard corals which superficially resemble orange sea anemones.

[3] This species is known from Saldanha Bay to East London off the South African coast, and lives from 5 to 150 metres (16 to 492 ft) under water.

This species is often found in caves or under dark overhangs.