Is this an Acanthastrea?

Real Reefs · #1 01/14/2005, 09:56 PM

All ID's welcomed. Thanks

SoKaL ReeFiN · #2 01/14/2005, 10:39 PM

Nope, it's a favia.

Real Reefs · #3 01/14/2005, 11:10 PM

SoKal ReeFin can you please be more specific as to the species. I have several Favia's and these polyps are far larger than my other Favia's. This coral is over 4" to give you some idea of how big the polyps are. Thanks

Real Reefs · #4 01/15/2005, 09:32 AM

Lat's try the day crowd on this ID. This coral was sold as an Acan however I am not sure. It is very different from any favia I have seen as the polyps are much larger. It still remains a nice piece no matter the genus.

redFishblue · #5 01/15/2005, 09:42 AM

some favias I've seen have had large polyps
and yours doesn't seem to have the jagged ridges of an acan

what kind of acan was it sold as?

redFishblue · #6 01/15/2005, 09:43 AM

.

Real Reefs · #7 01/15/2005, 10:03 AM

redFishblue. It was just sold as an acan without species designation. Thanks for the reply.

cparka23 · #8 01/15/2005, 10:31 AM

i would also agree with the previous poster. it appears to be a favia. Not really easy to say anything about species though. Not much you can do w/ just a picture of the colony, plus I'm sure it still involves some guesswork w/o knowing from what part of the world from it came and a little exposed skeleton.

Real Reefs · #9 01/15/2005, 10:47 AM

I checked for exposed skeleton however this is a perfectly healthy colony.

greenbean36191 · #10 01/15/2005, 12:53 PM

Hey Paul. I agree, it doesn't look like an acan to me. It looks like something in either the mussidae or favidae families (two pretty large families), but I'm not sure it's a favia. There are so many species that look so similar that I don't think I or anyone else could give an accurate ID without a skeleton and a couple of reference books. However, the reasons I say it's not an acan are that acans tend to have more of a bumpy, warty looking flesh. Also AFAIK acans, or lords at least, are extratentacular budders (new smaller polyps split off of the side of larger polyps) and your coral is definitely showing intratentacular budding (one large polyp splitting into two). Also, this part is a little hard to explain and a little more subjective, but the polyps of the acan lords when expanded look like they are seperate, while your corals' look connected.

SoKaL ReeFiN · #11 01/15/2005, 05:34 PM

I don't know the specifics of the species. But how much did you pay for this "acan"?

sbluscombe · #12 01/15/2005, 11:32 PM

Not a Acan. Looks nice though!!!