Coral Id - Sunset Monti??

[riptidesreef]

This looks like a sunset montipora to me but it has unusually long polyps. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[menard]

Dont look like any monti. to me, more like Alveopora.

 

[riptidesreef]

Definately not an alveopora..the polyps arent that big! Here is another photo to get an idea of how big Im talking about. See the blue leg hermit to the left of the coral?

 

[Jacob D]

Could be a cyphastrea. Doesn't look like any monti I've seen.

 

[tnyr5]

i've seen montis push their polyps out like that, but never that far, and the polyps look awfully big for montipora. Could you maybe put a plastic ruler right next to it for an more accurate scale?

 

[slojmn]

Seems like the polyps are definately a bit big and extended to be the sunset monti, color of the polyps is not the incredible green of my sunset, thought I have seen pics of "sunset montis" with that base color. Mine is definately the original LE and the base is orange, orange, orange. Very different form that one. That is a sweet little piece though. Chris at Reefer Madness loves a good ID challenge, check in wiht him on his vendor forum with the pic, maybe he might have an idea.

 

[Clouded]

I really do not think that is even an SPS, I am betting that is an LPS and I really think it is an Avleopora.

The polyps, are not coming out of a stony base.

 

[riptidesreef]

If thats an alveopora, then it's like none Ive ever seen. It is encrusting the rock that its on. The polyps are 1/4" long. I thought it could possibly be a type of porites.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

Could be a cyphastrea. I don't think that Tyree even classifies the sunset monti as a "monti" yet.

 

[riptidesreef]

yeah I looked those up too. I got it in trade. Cool little piece whatever it is. lol

 

[gemxsps]

I'm not sure what it is exactly.
But think that it is not sps.

 

[Big E]

Looks like an encrusting gonipora to me. Maybe green Gonipora Stutchburyi. I have a red one.

Post it in the LPS forum, theres some experts there that will id it for you.

check this too...
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/nftt/index.php

 

[MAthU]

porites is my guess too mine looks similar to that.

 

[JB NY]

It's not montipora. How many tentacles are on the polyp? It could be alveopora. there are a few species with small tentacles and not long polyp extension. Alveopora minuta, A. spongiosa, A. viridis to name a few. It actually looks similar to Goniopora stutchburyi as well. All those corals can have very small corallites (about 1mm in diameter) similar to many species of Porites .