Halomitra Pileus: a diamond in the rough!

ScavDog · #1 04/12/2005, 12:06 AM

This weekend I finally got around to visiting a fairly new LFS in my are, Sea Creatures in Revere, MA. While there I noted quite an abundance of softies and LPS. Among the Fungia and welsophyllia and a few other fairly common items was something that caught my eye.

I quickly asked for Borneman's Aquarium Corals and found my answer on page 257. Halomitra Pileus. A rare fungid! I then purchased this gem and made my way home. SCORE!!!!

Quote:

Characters: Colonies are large, free-living, thin and delicate, and circular, dome or bell-shaped. They have no axial furrow. Corallites are widely spaced and increase in size as the colony grows. In small colonies, septo-costae radiate in a fan from the initial point of growth or are perpendicular to the colony margin, in which case they form distinct lines of demarcation. Septa have teeth similar to those of Fungia fungites. Tentacles of mature colonies are extended only at night; those of juvenile colonies are commonly extended during the day.

Colour: Pale brown, frequently with bright pink or purple margins. Corallite centres are commonly white. Similar species: Halomitra clavator. Juvenile colonies may resemble Zoopilus echinatus if septo-costae form the pattern described above.

Habitat: Middle to lower reef slopes protected from wave action and lagoons on soft substrates.

Abundance: Usually uncommon.

The second two pictures show the coral pigging out on cyclopeeze.

**note free-loading tang

-Joe

TippyToeX · #2 04/12/2005, 12:15 AM

Sweet score Joe!

Blastomussaman · #3 04/12/2005, 01:05 AM

Nice, I like the multi-mouths!

Mchava · #4 04/12/2005, 02:22 AM

Awsome I wish my LFS got stuff like that. It seem that all the cool looking LPS are in the east coast and all the good looking sps are in the west coast. Oh well nice piece again.

zeppelin · #5 04/12/2005, 04:46 AM

Very cool.

bugsy714 · #6 04/12/2005, 05:55 AM

Nice piece, I love the color

Is this the same species:

ScavDog · #7 04/12/2005, 09:36 AM

It looks to be bugs. Is it yours?

bugsy714 · #8 04/12/2005, 02:04 PM

It's a piece that's been sitting on a website for $35 for months, I don't think anyone knew what it is. If it was the color of yours it would be mine

joetbs · #9 04/12/2005, 02:07 PM

Nice find Joe. They've been coming in kinda irregularly with Solomon Islands stuff. Those and sandalolithas. I think there is a 12:1 Fungia/Cycloceris to Halomitra coming in. I haven't seen any other colors, but they are neat.

joe