Nate - I wanted to share a couple of things I have learned since this thread started regarding coral identification.
The first is stated by JEN Veron regarding reef aquaria:
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The identification of aquarium-raised corals is a difficult and sometimes impossible task. Over time, most coral colonies become unnaturally colourful due to the accumulation of zooxanthellae in their tissues in response to low levels of photosynthetic light. They also assume growth-forms which are sometimes seen in the wild, but ususally only in deep water that may be unusual for the species. The most common growth-form abnormalities are increases in the amount of soft tissue (especially in free-living fungiids and mussids) and unusual development of corallites, such as on one side of branches of Acropora.
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Also, I posed a question on another board about coral identification. Eric Borneman was nice enough to offer me some insight:
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Originally Posted by EricHugo (posted on another board)
unless the species is very obvious - like Acropora palmata, Catalaphyllia, A. florida, Trachyphyllia, etc., just don't even try it. ESPECIALLY with Acropora, Montipora, faviids, and Porites. I'm going to do a taxonomy workshop at this year's MACNA I think (so have been asked) - and we can do a rundown on the methods here, but long and short of it is when someone tells me they have an Acropora whateverensis I just roll my eyes.
I mentioned to someone while I was up there, that there is a really nice little pocket guide to field ID of living Acropora to the sub-genus group. it costs about five dollars, and proceeds go to charity. Its called Acropora staghorn corals: A "getting to know you" and identification guide published by OceanNEnvironment (www oceannenvironment.com.au. Its the best quick guide outside being a geek with Wallace's big book or Veron.
A lot of hobbyists think that by saying or thinking they know the species they sound cool, but to anyone who knows how hard it is to ID corals, much less living and small aquarium corals where are the diagnostic features are covered in tissue, it just shows foolishness. Case in major point - mail order coral vendors. What a joke! |