The only member of the genus is Herpolitha limax, commonly known as the tongue, slipper, mole or striate boomerang coral.

This coral can grow to a length of 45 cm (18 in) or more and is usually some shade of grey, brown or greenish-brown.

[4][5] Herpolitha limax is native to the Indo-Pacific region, its range extending from East Africa and the Red Sea to Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the South Central Pacific.

[6] Under stressful conditions it is susceptible to bleaching and corals appear white after expelling their symbionts.

The population trend is unknown but this coral is harvested for the reef aquarium trade, over 2,000 pieces being collected in 2005.