Acropora spathulata experiences?

[SDguy]

That's the issue though............is spathulata even a separate species? Veron doesn't recognize it anything more than a millepora that gets heavy reef crest flow.

The two tone colors & being from Aus. might be all that makes it different.............not sure the coralite structure is different.

The coralite structure is definitely different, IMO. Whether that's because of environmental conditions, or genetics, or both, I obviously cannot say.

Pretty clear here that the first one would be called a spathulata:
http://www.sdmas.com/corals/47.php

 

[Big E]

If you say so............and if the caption said millepora pic taken in indonesia then what?

I'm not really taking a side on this, but people who sell the coral want to call it a different species & Veron says it's a millepora.

You have to take a dead skeketon of each and exame the corallite structure to make an educated guess. Even then, I don't think any hobbyist could make that conclusion, but I imagine a biologist that has studied corallite structure should be able to make a legit conclusion.

From your link above the pics............

Taxonomic note: This species is divisible into several smaller semi-distinct taxonomic units.

 

[SDguy]

If you say so............and if the caption said millepora pic taken in indonesia then what?

Those coralites are like night and day to me. Me saying the first one would be considered a spathulata has nothing to do with it being labeled as from Australia.

I know all the issues about acro identification, the possible idea of just a few "super species" with all others just beng variations of these, dead skeleton coralite structure analysis, etc etc etc. I'm really not commenting on any of that, or if spathulata is a "valid species", since last I checked, online coral vendors aren't the gold standard for proper scientific identification of corals I'm simply saying that what people call "spathulata" in the trade lately is very easy to ID, and, IMO, looks as close to a mille as an abrotanoides does. I look at it as a way of identifying the coral in a way the hobbyist understands... not from a scientific classification standpoint.

 

[psteeleb]

this was posted on Divers Den today 1/11

 

[MammothReefer]

Coral classification is a work in progress, yes even veron can mis-id stuff from time to time, or things can change. It's not just up to 1 person. If you spend enough time looking at the pics on his books you'll find that some corals of similar taxonomic identification are often VERY different. I like to look at his books as guidelines, not necessarily the end all be all.

 

[Big E]

I wouldn't give DD half of what they are asking for that piece, especially with the track record of browning & difficulty of keeping these alive from the experiences above.

 

[dvanacker]

Someone needs to map the DNA of each species......

I think we would find about double the amount of species already classified this way.

 

[therman]

Double post

 

[therman]

In Wallace's Staghorn Corals of the World (1999), he resurrected A. spathulata to describe the thick Australian morph, based on both morphology and laboratory studies that showed reproductive isolation between this morph and A. millepora.

Acropora spathulata

Why Veron didn't include this revision in his book published the next year could be due to a variety of reasons...maybe it was already at the printer when the research came to light...maybe it was a professional difference of opinion...who knows. Somebody send him an email and ask

On a related note, I just noticed that COTW is back online! Seems like it's been down most of the time lately. On the website it notes that A. millepora is divisible into "several smaller semi-distinct taxonomic units" including A. spathulata. This makes me think it is a difference of opinion.

Tim

 

[MammothReefer]

I have to say they aren't really that hard to keep. Mine went threw hell before and lived for over a year before I got a bad batch of RSCP that caused it to RTN (as with a few other pieces).. Even so a tiny frag still lived and it's growing back.

 

[therman]

Yeah mine actually survived a period of major neglect. One took it in stride, the other receded a bit from the encrusted area and polyps shrunk. Things have improved and now they are bouncing back about a foot in front of an mp40, seem happy and area coloring up.

 

[takayan]

I bought a coupe of pieces from DD. I think it is VERY difficult to maintain the original color. Some of them just became brown. Some of them can be in good color, but not original color.

 

[SDguy]

Ohhh... look at the blue and green one coming on today's LADD update! It's their SPS category thumbnail.

 

[SDguy]

Wonder if the green/purple combo keeps easier than the more common pink/green...

It's HOT! regardess!

 

[klepto]

On a related note, I just noticed that COTW is back online! Seems like it's been down most of the time lately.

Tim

It's been back online for quite a while now. Roughly 5-6 months. It seems like most people are using the SDMAS database instead. I much prefer the AIMS option. Most of the time when it their site was "down" you could still access the individual species pages by googling the scientific name followed by AIMS.

I agree Peter, that is a sweet looking Acro!

 

[sandhog]

Wonder if the green/purple combo keeps easier than the more common pink/green...

It's HOT! regardess!

I have an all blue one that i bought as a frag. I grows medium speed for me in high flow high light. I wish I could have gotten the two colours like in the picture. I have never seen one around here in those colours.

 

[MammothReefer]

my piece is that colour.. sadly it's down to a nub frag..but

Just add photoshop and poof it's the same ^_^

 

[SDguy]

Well nubs don't help anyone, do they... :lol:

 

[jpa14]

I picked this up and got it today will post some pics of it..tomorrow

Wonder if the green/purple combo keeps easier than the more common pink/green...

It's HOT! regardess!

 

[MammothReefer]

Well nubs don't help anyone, do they... :lol:

It's growing..slowly. I'll have a frag ready in a year.. or two ha.