can you identify this coral?

[jameskb]

Noticed this little bugger on a piece of live rock from my LFS, bought the rock for it. It has thrived under 90w 60%blue 30% white LEDs and is growing albeit slowly. It has even begun growing an offshoot of itself on another area of the rock but as to how it got onto the other piece I don't know. I have never noticed it reproducing via fission and the main colony in no way comes into contact with the secondary one, nor has the rock come into contact with another rock that could've allowed the transfer.

Anywho, this is unique and neat to me as I haven't seen another like it in my LFS but I'm sure some of you if not all know what it is. Any help or links to information about it would be greatly appreciated.

Link to my imgur.com album of this coral is here
http://imgur.com/a/tuWO2#KPMWc

 

[rtb388]

could be Cyphastrea ... is that bluebase with green eyes?

also could be encrusting flower pot (goniopora) Just can't tell if the flowers have "stems" so to speak... if not and they seem pretty flush...I would definitely say Cyphastrea..

nice stuff

 

[jameskb]

Seems to be a green base the flower polyps don't have stems, just the flowers that pop out of the base. Pretty sure its not goniopora but that was one of my first thoughts as well =D

thanks for the reply! Other ideas are also appreciated if anyone else has one. I am off to research Cyphastrea!

 

[rtb388]

I would say definitely Cyphastrea then.... nice find.. it is encrusting

 

[jameskb]

Splendid! I believe you nailed it! http://www.tidalgardens.com/pages/coral/cyphastrea.html

found that through a google search and it looks like what I have dead on aside from the colors, mine is more a metallic green with rust tinge instead of the purple. I'm still mystified as to how it began to grow the second small colony of (so far) 4 polyp heads so far from the main colony.

 

[rtb388]

they might have had a second rock in the holding tank rub up against and "fragged a piece" that landed there and took hold maybe?

just a guess

glad to help enjoy