4 months later, much bigger and someting new

[Nu2Reef]

Hello Dr. Ron,
Back in January I asked if I could get an ID on this hitchiker coral (top right) I beleive you sugestted some sort of cup coral. Now that it's larger could you take another look and give me a closer ID.

Also in the bottom left is some sort of mutant zoo thats new. Any idea what it is?
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/167795-12-03_unknow_coral_and_zoo_2.jpg

thank you

[rshimek]

[moved]

Eric has more expertise with these animals than I do, so I am moving the thread to the Coral Forum for his input.

:D

[EricHugo]

I would need a clear closeu-up of the top right coral with polyps wthdrawn so i can see the skeleton to tell you what it might be. The "mutant" zoanthid appears also to have a skeleton, in which case its definitely not a azonthid...too far away and not clear enough to see what it is for sure.

[Nu2Reef]

Hello Eric,

Here's a picture of it from January
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/c8481ff0/bc/Fish+Reef/1-10-03+unknown+coral+2+views.jpg?bcveGx.AcIFhRj36

and one i took tonight polyps partially withdrawn
http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/c8481ff0/bc/Fish+Reef/5-14-03+hitchiker+coral.jpg?bcfxGx.ALr_PacyG

[Typo]

the coral on the top right hand side of the picture is definitely galaxia. the coral that im sure was asked to be id'd that is in the lower left hand corner of the picture looks like it may be a type of scolymia.

[EricHugo]

Neither of the links are working.

Typo, you have answered identification questions in about 3-4 posts in a row here...out of curiosity, what are you using to identify these corals? I consider myself pretty competent in identification, and I can't see enough features in all these photos to identify them. For example, how do you known that the one coral is Galaxea if you can't see the skeleton, and what makes you think the smaller one is Scolymia? I see large primary septa and alternating smaller ones...I was unaware Scolymia had these skeletal features. Cynarina does.

[Nu2Reef]

Sorry about the bad links
here is the photo from last night
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/167795-14-03_hitchiker_coral.jpg

and the one from January.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/167791-10-03_unknown_coral_2_views.jpg


The little weird zoo i was concerned that it might be some sort of mojano (but that's what people said the other coral looked like and that I should kill it)

[Typo]

im using my fuzzy memory. the top coral im still hellbent on sayign it is galaxia. the bottom coral as you point out has more character traits towards cynarina then it does to scolymia. i do not garauntee im correct, im no expert, but i feel my knowledge is vast enough to express my opinion.

[Nu2Reef]

galaxia? I'm very much a novice but all of the photos I've seen of galaxia the tips of the polyps are much longer, thicker and more rounded at the ends.

The other thing isn't any sort of stony coral, i've see it shrink down to nothing.

here's a much clearer picture of it
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/167794-9-03_Odd_Zoo.jpg

I believe it's some sort of zoo or mojano

[photobarry]

Originally posted by Nu2Reef
The other thing isn't any sort of stony coral, i've see it shrink down to nothing.

You mean that the calcium skeleton disappears? Or, there is no skeleton? I'm confused. Then again, my roomates are having some sort of karaoke party which is always disorienting. ;)

-Barry

[EricHugo]

The top coral is definitely not Galaxea - it is showing extratentacular budding which by itself is rather interesting. As I recall, this was from aquacultured live rock? If so, I am pretty sure this is Phyllangia which can be facultatively zooxanthellate and this coral obviously has zoox now. I was unaware they would get a fluorscent oral disk, but its possible...and interesting.

That bottom critter...also from aquacultured rock? I see now those weren't septa but tentacles...also interesting....and obviously not Scolymia, too.

(Sorry about the vast knowledge, typo...see why photos are so deceiving!) ;)

[kyles]

Wow Eric, Damn you are good! Keep up the awesome work.

[Nu2Reef]

Thanks Eric.

I'll post some new pictures of it in another 4 months.

And the other, I'll just wait to see if it get's bigger

[Typo]

yes, photos are definitely decieving....

[Nu2Reef]

thanks again for the feed back

I'm working on the photo skills