Classification of "Purple Passion Tree Coral"

[aninjaatemyshoe]

I've been doing research on Nephtheidae corals. For awhile now I've had a frag of what was described to me as a Neospongodes sp. Upon trying to verify this, I've come to the conclusion that it is more likely a Stereonepthya. I also believe that what Live Aquaria has described as "purple passion tree coral" is a Stereonepthya as well. While Neospongodes and Stereonepthya corals have very similar morphologies, there is one major discernible difference: Stereonepthya is from the Indo-Pacific and Neospongodes is from the tropical Atlantic. In the description Live Aquaria has, the coral is listed as being aquacultured from a specimen from Indonesia. Here is one reference that speaks to the differences:

http://dpc.uba.uva.nl/ctz/vol76/nr03/art02

 

[DFS]

aninjaatemyshoe,

Thank you for the link. The classification of soft corals has been in flux for well over ten years. In the last few years especially more and more of these animals have been moved or reclassified into different genera based on more accurate means of analysis including DNA testing. The biggest problem is that morphologically, some of these genera can look almost identical, even to the well trained professional.

I would have to agree with you after reading this abstract, and doing further research on my end, and will take the proper steps to change the genus of these beautiful soft corals to Stereonephthya.

Thank you for your help!

Regards,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith