Turbinaria mesenterina is encrusting or forms flat or vase-shaped plates with corallites only on one side.

[2] Turbinaria mesenterina is present in the Indo-Pacific region, its range extending from East Africa and the Red Sea to Taiwan, French Polynesia and eastern Australia.

It is common in most reef environments and may be the dominant coral species in turbid habitats.

[3] Turbinaria mesenterina is a zooxanthellate species of coral, housing symbiotic dinoflagellates in its tissues.

The reefs where it lives are being progressively damaged and rising sea water temperatures causes stress to corals.