ID Please

BigReepher · 01-20-2005, 01:37 PM

I picked this frag up yesterday. It came from a plating/scrolling cap looking colony that the guy had been growing out for the last six years. He didn't have any idea what it was and neither does the LFS. Does anyone have any idea what this is or point me in the right direction? TIA

BigReepher · 01-20-2005, 01:41 PM

Here's another.

UnderWaterParadise · 01-20-2005, 06:53 PM

Looks like a Plating form of Hydraphorna ( i know I butchered the spelling)

NaH2O · 01-20-2005, 07:33 PM

I'll take a stab and say Tubinaria spp. I was flipping thru JEN Veron's book, and came across this: Turbinaria mesenterina (this is actually the same info as in the Corals of the World book). Here is another picture: Turbinaria mesenterina, and finally more info Dendrophylliidae (you'll have to scroll down some to find it). If you want to get searching a little more, check out the CoralSearch Page. I'd like to see a pic from the top down, and when its opened up. Looks like a nice piece....what size is it?

mps9506 · 01-20-2005, 08:08 PM

Is the surface fleshy or hard? It is a bit diffcult to tell from the picture exactly what it could be. Best to take a picture of it with the polyps retracted to get a loks at the skeleton.
I don't think it is Tubinaria however.
Mike

NaH2O · 01-20-2005, 11:37 PM

Mike - any guesses as to the genus you are thinking? or why you don't think it is Turbinaria spp? I looked up based on the coral growth shape first to narrow down the choices. I actually thought the photo was with polyps retracted. Nate, can you get a better close-up pic, showing the "bumpy thingys" from above? Thanks

geofloors · 01-21-2005, 08:14 AM

Looks like Hydnophora to me also. Montiporas never have that much flesh.

George

mps9506 · 01-21-2005, 08:43 AM

ell, first off, I know it's not the correct way to ID things, but I have never seen such a green specimen of tubinaria

Second, the tubinaria has a smooth skeleton and tissue between the corallites. This definately has a bumpy texture between the corallites. If this is from the skelton or the flesh I don't now.

From the growth form it sounds ike a montipora sp. but from the picture it appears to be hydnophora. It could also be a merulina sp.

NaH2O · 01-21-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

ell, first off, I know it's not the correct way to ID things

Sorry - I was "taking a stab", and trying to come up with possibilities. Perhaps, you can tell me how to correctly identify a coral, so I don't make the same mistakes again.

BigReepher · 01-21-2005, 09:01 AM

Thanks everyone for helping me find out what this is. The "bumpy thingys" are soft and they retract into ridges in the skeleton. The frag is 2 1/2 X 3 inches with a thick but porous skeleton. Sorry I didn't include any other details or tell more about the piece Nikki. So far I'd have to say it does have some of the characteristics of a hydnophora. I haven't been able to find any plating hydnophora yet though. I'll take some better pictures when I get back from taking the kids to school.

mps9506 · 01-21-2005, 09:04 AM

I hadn't found any hydnophora sp. that plate either. That's why I am hesitant to call it hydnophora. I suspect Merulina or something in that family.

NaH2O · 01-21-2005, 09:31 AM

Thanks, Nate. I didn't envision the "bumps" as fleshy, but hard. I looked at some different Hydnophora spp. and the one that appears similar, in my opinion, is this one: Hydnophora exesa. One picture the link is lacking, that is available in Veron's text is a close-up shot of the tentacles partly extended. Also, a larger picture of the tentacles, in the beginning of the families section. Also, it says that some colonies of this species can be composed only of plates. Anyway, sorry nate, for my error - at least it was a way of elimination.

UnderWaterParadise · 01-21-2005, 11:18 AM

A buddy of mine got a huge plating Hydnophora a few months ago, and I have seen several others

Quote:

Originally Posted by mps9506

I hadn't found any hydnophora sp. that plate either. That's why I am hesitant to call it hydnophora. I suspect Merulina or something in that family.

BigReepher · 01-21-2005, 11:31 AM

Thanks Nikki, the H.exesa also has some similarities as well as the H.bonsai, but the skeleton is different. Here are some more and hopefully better pics. It's definately unlike anything I've seen.

BigReepher · 01-21-2005, 11:35 AM

and another....hope this works

1st one is partially retracted, the 2nd is a macro, 3rd is the back of the frag, and last is a full extension pic. I'm still mystified.

01-20-2005, 06:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
UnderWaterParadise my name is Rob and I'm a Zooaholic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Olivehurst, Cali. Posts: 419 View Gallery Karma Komment	Looks like a Plating form of Hydraphorna ( i know I butchered the spelling) __________________ AQUARIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS 135 REEF and jusreefin

01-20-2005, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'll take a stab and say Tubinaria spp. I was flipping thru JEN Veron's book, and came across this: Turbinaria mesenterina (this is actually the same info as in the Corals of the World book). Here is another picture: Turbinaria mesenterina, and finally more info Dendrophylliidae (you'll have to scroll down some to find it). If you want to get searching a little more, check out the CoralSearch Page. I'd like to see a pic from the top down, and when its opened up. Looks like a nice piece....what size is it? __________________ ~Nikki~

01-20-2005, 08:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,013 View Gallery Karma Komment	Is the surface fleshy or hard? It is a bit diffcult to tell from the picture exactly what it could be. Best to take a picture of it with the polyps retracted to get a loks at the skeleton. I don't think it is Tubinaria however. Mike __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

01-20-2005, 11:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	Mike - any guesses as to the genus you are thinking? or why you don't think it is Turbinaria spp? I looked up based on the coral growth shape first to narrow down the choices. I actually thought the photo was with polyps retracted. Nate, can you get a better close-up pic, showing the "bumpy thingys" from above? Thanks __________________ ~Nikki~

01-21-2005, 08:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,013 View Gallery Karma Komment	ell, first off, I know it's not the correct way to ID things, but I have never seen such a green specimen of tubinaria Second, the tubinaria has a smooth skeleton and tissue between the corallites. This definately has a bumpy texture between the corallites. If this is from the skelton or the flesh I don't now. From the growth form it sounds ike a montipora sp. but from the picture it appears to be hydnophora. It could also be a merulina sp. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

01-21-2005, 08:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
geofloors Bryozoan Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 55 View Gallery Karma Komment	Looks like Hydnophora to me also. Montiporas never have that much flesh. George

01-21-2005, 09:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
BigReepher Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 474 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks everyone for helping me find out what this is. The "bumpy thingys" are soft and they retract into ridges in the skeleton. The frag is 2 1/2 X 3 inches with a thick but porous skeleton. Sorry I didn't include any other details or tell more about the piece Nikki. So far I'd have to say it does have some of the characteristics of a hydnophora. I haven't been able to find any plating hydnophora yet though. I'll take some better pictures when I get back from taking the kids to school. __________________ I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look.

01-21-2005, 09:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,013 View Gallery Karma Komment	I hadn't found any hydnophora sp. that plate either. That's why I am hesitant to call it hydnophora. I suspect Merulina or something in that family. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

01-21-2005, 09:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, Nate. I didn't envision the "bumps" as fleshy, but hard. I looked at some different Hydnophora spp. and the one that appears similar, in my opinion, is this one: Hydnophora exesa. One picture the link is lacking, that is available in Veron's text is a close-up shot of the tentacles partly extended. Also, a larger picture of the tentacles, in the beginning of the families section. Also, it says that some colonies of this species can be composed only of plates. Anyway, sorry nate, for my error - at least it was a way of elimination. __________________ ~Nikki~

01-21-2005, 11:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
BigReepher Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 474 View Gallery Karma Komment	and another....hope this works 1st one is partially retracted, the 2nd is a macro, 3rd is the back of the frag, and last is a full extension pic. I'm still mystified. __________________ I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look.

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