Could anybody ID These Three Corals ?

[AcroSteve]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6766184#post6766184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drake66
#1 purple tip valida, it'll color up REAL nice purple at the tips, i've got one of those

That's two for the A valida, I hope you are right. But it kind of looks like a A nasuta. Page 184 "Corals of Australia and The Indo-Pacific. Thoughts?

It has been tan/brown for so long. Like over a year. In the past couple of months, I have been getting most of my long-term brown corals to color up.

 

[drake66]

mhm...maybe.. b/c my valida colored up real nice after 3 months so its probably a. nasuta

 

[AcroSteve]

Didn't mean to disagree, but I got my book out to verify the ID, and noticed the nasuta a few pages away.

However, the natusa in Coral of the World-V1, does not look as close.

Alas, the technicalities of an online ID.

Still, I like to call it something faily close rather than "that coral over there". Therefore, the reason behind most ID threads.

Here's a full tank shot to keep the interest up.

You hardcore SPS guys go easy on me. Just overlook the softies in there.

 

[jgleach]

AcroSteve...I know it's been awhile since you first posted this and I have no way of knowing if you've gotten your colonies identified yet but going back to the original pics, number two sure does look like a Heliopora or "blue ridge" coral to me....

Jeff

 

[AcroSteve]

Thanks, but definitely not a heliopora. I have one in the tank. It is on the right side of this photo.

The polyps on the #2 photo are nowhere near as large as the Blue Ridge polyps, which are retracted in the photo above.

The shape is similar, and the photo is poor. I may try to get a better pic sometime.

 

[AcroSteve]

Here is a better pic of the #2 coral.

Anybody?

Let's add this one to the mix.

Some sort of tort, right?

 

[LeftCoast]

The first looks like a Porites species (maybe annae or cylindrica). The second is definitely A. tortuosa.

 

[AcroSteve]

Any idea on a variation? I do not think it is an Oregon, but maybee a Cali?

 

[Sk8r]

The 1 is likely valida, I agree. I think the one with the lighter u shaped shelves and fuzzy sides is millepora.

 

[LeftCoast]

I don't think it is any specific type, but it could be considered a Cali tort.

 

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Hello All,

Not to burst anyone's bubble but I think photo #1 is an A. proximalis. Two things pointed me in that direction, first was the long tubular radial corallites and second was the long thing branches (unlike a A. valida which is bushier).

Your "Tort" which can be lots of things dependent upon the mood, is in my opinion a A. exquisista which has similarities to A. tortuosa but differs with much longer radial corallites.

I also agree that #2 is a Porites, more specifically a "monticulosa" which has incredibly small corallites of 0.5 to 0.7mm in diameter.

I hope this helps, enjoy your corals they look beautiful.

Chris @ RM

 

[LeftCoast]

I'm pretty sure Chris can own all of us at IDing corals.

 

[AcroSteve]

Wow!

Thanks Chris.

 

[ReeferMadnessUS]

No Worries,

Anymore you would like me to make a shot at?

Have a good one,

Chris @ RM

Oh and I totally agree with the ID on photo #3 (A. sarmentosa).

 

[LeftCoast]

Woot! Score one for me! :lol:

 

[deansreef]

I have a coral that looks like that brown one, it is a native coral her in NC, I will get a pic when I can

 

[AcroSteve]

Originally posted by ReeferMadnessUS
Anymore you would like me to make a shot at?

Well... since you offered, I might as well.


I posted this one on the 1st page, but never got anybody to take a guess. Someone might have mentioned a milli, but I think I disagree from the 1st pic beacuse of the slightly random layout of the coralites. But the 2nd one does look like it could be.

And a more recent shot of the same coral.

This one? Not the best angle, but right now it is the best I have of it.

And, for the trifecta, one more. Might be a little small for the ID, but give it a shot.

 

[Mariner]

I'd guess A. millepora on the top one.
Mariner

 

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Okay here goes.

Yes the corallite structure of the first photo resembles a A. millepora but the actual tenticular crown of the polyp looks different as do the thickness of the branches (seems chunkier). My guess on this one is the Staghorn A. robusta. This should be easier to tell as time goes on as this should shoot up vertically.

The second one you are asking about, I think is a A. prostrata, similar to an A. millepora but has more uniform radial corallites and has tapered branches.

The third without a doubt in my mind is a A. cerealis..

I hope this helps. Bring it on, I want more!

Chris @ RM

 

[maggiesaqsup]

Bring it on, I want more!

Chris @ RM [/B]

I almost gave up on a ID on the pic below can you help me out?