goniopora = LPS or SPS?

[Kelmen]

Hello Dr. Ron, just a short question, is goniopora under LPS or SPS?

I suppose its under LPS, but somehow my book grouped it under "stony\true coral" which are mostly SPS.

[cadams]

its LPS. "stony\true coral" isn't SPS necessarily.

[KDodds]

Goniopora is generally considered LPS, but certainly the argument can be made that some species/specimens are more "SPS-like". The problem here is that polyp-size is an arbitrary assignation by reef hobbyists. As such, our "grouping" into LPS and SPS serves a function for us, but is not taxonomically sound. Generally, "SPS" are considered to be those species that have many, many small, less "fleshy" polyps on large (relative to the polyp size) skeletons and require higher lighting and current conditions than "LPS". "LPS" have fewer, larger, more "fleshy" polyps and require less light and current than "SPS", generally. Each classification is based, therefore, on comparison to the other, not on the characteristics of the individual species/specimen in question. Both SPS and LPS are scleractinian "true corals".