It is native to the Red Sea and the western Indo-Pacific region and is a zooxanthellate species with a calcareous skeleton.

Its range extends from the Red Sea and the eastern coast of Africa to Japan, Australia, American Samoa and the Mariana Islands.

It is found at depths down to about 15 metres (49 ft), often in turbid locations where it is tolerant of some degree of siltation.

[1] Like other fire corals, Millepora tenera can cause painful rashes when touched by bare skin.

Rabbits immunised with the extract developed neutralising antibodies that were protective against hemolysis, dermonecrosis and death.