Can you ID this ?possible? LPS coral?

BillnJennh

New member
I'm not really sure if this is SPS or LPS as I got it in a frag pack. There was no documentation showing what this might be, so I'm turning to you all for help. Have you got any ideas?
20401Picture-006.jpg
 
Judging from the large septo-costae I'd say Echinomorpha.

Echinomorpha nishihirai
865-03M.jpg


Characters: Colonies or individuals are thin and delicate. They may have only one corallite or have a prominent central corallite and widely spaced peripheral corallites. Septo-costae radiate from the central corallite like spokes from a wheel. Colour: Uniform or mottled dark browns or greens. Similar species: Superficially resembles mussids, especially Scolymia. Habitat: Lower reef slopes protected from wave action, and in crevices. Abundance: Rare but distinctive

Source reference: Veron (2000). Taxonomic reference: Veron (1990a, as Echinophyllia nishihirai). Identification guide: Nishihira and Veron (1995, as Echinophyllia nishihirai).



I believe I also have an Echinomorpha. It's a similar color to yours.

Echinomorpha905.jpg


I picked it up at MACNA this year. The Septo-costea are radiating from the larger central corallite like spokes from a wheel, just as it describes above.
 
Yes, it is quite similar to yours, RandyO. I'm hoping for some greater coloring once it's been in the tank for a while. Have you noticed a slow or fast growth pattern? The frag that I have is about one inch by one inch, and it seems to be encrusting the rock it's on. I'm keeping the rock that it's encrusting next to a much bigger rock in hopes that it will encrust over. Thanks for the ID, everyone.
 
I've only had it since September, but I've noticed just a small amount of growth. Since it's a wild piece, I'm giving it some time before I declar it a slow grower. Some of my Echinophyllia took 6 months to settle in before their growth took off.

The color is close to the same as the day I got it. If anything, it has lightened up a bit. I keep it in the corner of a 65 gallon with a single 400 watt 20K bulb and 2 65W compacts.
 
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