At one time this species was not recognised, but it was split from Madracis mirabilis on the grounds of morphology and depth range.

Other characteristics that distinguished the new species from others include the presence of base skeletal structures devoid of living tissue, a fairly smooth coenosteum, a distinct line of spines between the corallites, and the absence of secondary septa in the closely spaced corallites.

The hard skeletal material of which the colony is built is in most coral species covered by a thin layer of living tissue, the coenosarc.

After fertilisation, the planula larvae form part of the plankton and eventually settle on the seabed and undergo metamorphosis into polyps.

[4] In some instances, M. auretenra has been observed to retain the gametes on its mesenteries and pseudo-brood the larvae briefly before liberating them into the sea.